The Best Turkish Dentistry Could Provide

The cherished number plate 
hides the true age 
of the car
on the forecourt
the make-up 
and surgery 
hides the true age 
of its driver. 
The choice 
of a purchase 
testifies to an upbringing 
the outfit 
she's selected 
screams along!

For in a 'less than
designer tracksuit
with a 'bona fide
fake gold necklace
round a 'genuine
spray-tanned neckline (which no suns rays have ever seen)
two lips 
with more filler 
than a '75 Ford Cortina
and boobs 
so full of silicone,
her bra's prepared to quit
there; 
with a fake 
but unconvincingly labelled handbag 
from a well-known internet auction site 
lyes the 'not-quite
latest iPhone 
trussed up
like her boobs
in a fake 
diamond phone case
with more sparkle  
than her teeth
which are the best 
Turkish dentistry 
could provide!

(Haiku)

With phone and a fag, 
tinted hair and her handbag -
she goes off to work


Silently Grows The Grass


A dog took a man for a walk,
I told a little bird.
A horse saw a beautiful person 
hanging their head over the fence,
so it stroked the person's face
the muddy paddock marking its hooves.
A fence jumped over a sheep
as the sheep counted the people that don't sleep.
Trees don't grow far from their acorns
but the log slept like a human.

Mist.
By day the shadows run and hide 'neath a tree
sleeping by night 
only woken by the bright light of the moon
as the earth rejects the sun, 
winter creeps in - autumn leaves
'fall' in America.
Leaves the carpet of gold.

With a great fanfare - silently grows the grass.

Fat People

Diet coke
Diet shakes
Diet chocolate
Fat people

Skinny fries
Skinny lattes
Skinny Jeans
Fat people

Sugar free gum
Sugar free drinks
Sugar free mints
Fat people

Lite spread
Lite beers
Lite oils
Fat people

Slimline tonics
Slimline monitors
Slimline dishwashers
Fat people!

Why!

Old Men

Old men.
Natures cantankerous,
curmudgeonly old grumps.
Good for nothing,
drained of life,
past their prime,
near their end
...sort of old men.

Benches are where these old men can be found.
Benches in our high streets,
benches at bus stops,
benches in parks and on seafronts,
old men sat on benches.
Swaddled in large over-coats,
polished shoes,
a cap and a scarf
...or worn out 'trackies
a sweatshirt and a faded denim jacket,
(memories of their youth),
a 'fag' on the go,
seemingly stuck to their bottom lip
...sort of old men.

Sat behind blank stares,
their 'get-up-and-go' had just 'got-up-and-gone'
confused by the life they find themselves in,
looking for all the world like it just ran past them,
wondering what the hell happened,
wondering where the hell it all went,
talking to no-one,
talking to anyone,
anyone who'd listen
sort of old men.

Sitting to rest and think,
sitting to remember,
or to forget.
Looking at the world around them, 
trying to connect with it,
trying to feel involved in it
wanting to feel apart of it,
...but not really getting it,

Sort of old men.

The Big C

"The big C",
Suffering from it
living with it
standing up to it
coping with it, (or not),
struck down with it
"taken by it"
dying from it
don't mention it!
Don't say it!
It
It
It.

Certain?
Certainly!
Certainty.
Uncertainty.
What's certain?
Tomorrow isn't certain.
Was our upbringing?
Were our children?
Was our adulthood?"
Will our history?
Certainty?
Certainly uncertain.

Questions.
Where have I?
What have I?
Why have I?
What does it?
Where does it?
Why does it?
How long have I got?
Where
What
Why?
Why?
Why!

Care.
Who cares?
The help.
The treatments.
The cures.
Surgery.
Chemotherapy, 
radiation therapy, 
hormonal therapy, 
targeted therapy.
Where are the promises in all that therapy?
Therapy 
therapy 
therapy!

Language becomes personal.
You must have an internal...
You must give us...
We need, 
we must have,
your blood,
your urine,
your feces.
Book here for..
X-rays,
tests,
biopsies,
poking,
prodding,
we must explore for the unexpected. 
"Unexpected bleeding in the bagging area!"
Lumps and bumps.
Breasts.
Prostate.
Anus.
Lungs.
Unexpected 
Unexpected 
Unexpected.

Statistics.
1.9 million.
1 in 2 men
1 in 3 women
200 different.
36%.
375,400.
167,142.
50%.
30%.
25%
10%
Stage 1, 2, 3, 4!
Doubled.
Twice as.
four times as much as...
It's all statistics. 

Side effects.
Hair loss.
Weight gain.
Weight loss!
Bloating and bleeding.
Blood when you cough.
Blood when you sneeze.
Blood when you vomit.
Blood when you.
Blood when...
Blood.
Blood. 
Blood.

Changes.
Breathlessness.
Change.
Chest pains.
Change.
Moles.
Change.
Itchy or flaky?
Change.
Size.
Changing.
Different.
Changing.
Have I.
Changed?

...and has it changed the way I'll die?