Shafts

The light
From the warm white
Bare lamp bulb

Falls onto the bright
Plain polyester type
Shower curtain

I lay in my bathtub
Left side
Under the water line

To ease the pain
Of my year long
Frozen shoulder

I am covered in bubbles
Meanwhile Lyle Lovett
Sings of his woman troubles

These are times of peace
These are times of calm
Balmy reminders of last summer

These are the moments
Of joy and gratefulness
For life and sentimental stuff

This is the life
And don’t I know it
If only I was able to show it

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Regeneration

Turner prize
A cold day in December
Actually a colder day than that

The fruit market
A cold day in December
Actually a warmer day than that

Robots, and waterfronts
A cold day in December
Actually at least as cold a day as that

Turquoise blue volunteers
Struggle with their posture
Awkward; with time, with purpose

Visitors, and well-wishers
And condescending temptresses
Who have seen me disappear

Seen me disappear
Into paintings and onto postage stamps

Seen me disappear
Into installations and video projections

Seen me disappear
Into a Saturday afternoon in December

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Broken Open

I have been released
Many times before
Although this sure
Feels like the big one
For several days, and nights
I have felt, and seen, a light
It is a light which I now call
The clear light of freedom

I tell you this as I listen
To Brian Eno’s Discreet Music
While I soak
In my morning bath
While I ease my shoulder pain
With the warmer water
And, with discretion being
The better part of valour

I won’t tell you
Of all of the circumstances
Which have brought about
This wonderful transition
Except to say, for I feel
That I must say something
So I will tell you that at long last
There was a letter

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Coincidence

You sent me away
I went away
Either way
The way
Was inexcusable

I wanted to stay
Just a little bit longer
But I heard
Someone say
That is a Hollies song

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Winter

After snow, sleet
After sleet, rain
After rain, sun
After sun, light
After light, life

Life, as in birds in flight
Life, as in birds on branches
Life, as in birds at play
Life, as in birds in the snow

After snow, stillness
After snow, shadows
After snow, leaves
After snow, grass
After snow, life

Life, as in rooftops
Life, as in fences
Life, as in summer houses
Life, as in places to stay

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