1 Day One
What Was
Shoulder season for darkness as my day
companion flitters beside me so
clear spray bottle in hand I walked away.
Burgers coffee hotdogs shuttered for low
season feeling like I’m twenty-one you
really need to try this. Full eye contact. Slight
lean in and saying “Tell me more that’s you
Tell me more about that.” Hear the light.
Listen to understand. Fascinated.
My day companion is an angel.
We hold eyes lean in. In the often slated
off season. Cleaning time. Winter’s wet spells.
Work hard. Contribute. Sometimes walk away.
See a ruin it might matter one day.
2 Day Two
The Red Flags (All Artworks)
See a ruin it might matter one day.
Everything is broken. Not showing
his face. Very faithful words. Waterway
in a war zone. I am purifying
said the fragment. They want to kill us we’ll
kill them first my fierce angel we rough
wrap around one another in this healed
grave you’re trying to be perfect enough
that he stops noticing others. Passive.
Choice is active. He’s a seaside shuttered
stall that still notices that effective
war slosh of rain sleet snow ice unfettered.
Beyond this wrapped grave the whole world’s on fire.
This cracked family is ruined desire.
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Paul Brookes
Picture Rupert Loydell
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