seventy three point eight
million pounds
said the email
the email didnt say that
it didnt say million
and the point
was one decimal left
and it wasnt for me
i owed it
bank fees or similar
cos money costs money
and one day too late
or even just in time
we will all see the emperor
in his birthday suit
and
that
wont
cost
a
thing
from phrases.org.uk
do you want to try this ?
you might like it ?
no
do you want to go
to your classmates party ?
no
have a friend over ?
no
what do you want to do
for your birthday ?
nothing
what do you want to be
when you grow up ?
stuntman
show nan your new shoes ?
grrrrrr
and
i
would
hide
inside
the laurel tree
in
homemade camo trousers
and
pretend
i
was
a
spy
since turning 40 in a hot sticky summer haze of fever
surgical masks
and cancelled trips
there is question mark hanging
over ever dry dust and fresh scrubbed
and palm-open or fist-closed face
where
an
age
could be printed in a bold times font
i am unable to fill this gap with a number
but prefer to place phrases there like
CHILD
HALF WIT
or ENLIGHTENED
like
TRYING
SURVIVING
or SELF-CENTRED
like
HIDING
OVERHEATED
or WILLINGLY DELUDED
i label in lower case
always ready to erase
in the accepting wind-tides of change and progress
and
the
word
above my head is not for me to write there
but i do lean back
or quickly look up
in hopes of catching a glimpse
of
my
current perceived status
