became uncomfortable
realizing
i did not fit in
Jack said my notebook
looked like a bible
i sooked off
overcome with memories
that still creep me out
with behaviour modification
working insincerity
his wife asked
why i was in the corner
and i joked about being a dunce
you know like school days
it fell to the floor lame as a byline
and i wondered if a linguist
could improve my diction
someone who knew better
to help me converse
so that when i opened my mouth
it did not simply sound ‘he brew’
finally i slipped away
caught Jack’s eye
nodded my farewell
i shan’t do that again
too many old men in the world
the drive home was a bastard.
‘at the reading’ first published Impspired Magazine 1st December 2023 edited by Steve Cawte Geoffrey Aitken – impspired Facebook