this chewed biro
against this clean paper
makes tiny gnawing noises
scratching sounds
little insect legs
on glass
insistent
brilliant
huge disobedient howl
that’s what this
is this
writing this
thing to do
with words
giant v sign
to the shrieking warplane this
safety of a warm and quiet pub
on a winter afternoon,this
silver slap of the waves
this machine-gun
when you’re cornered
in an alley this
twenty pound note
in an envelope this
talkative tomcat this
iced larger
by the sea
on a hot summer day this
is fucking beautiful
.
Niall Griffiths
Picture Nick Victor
.