v

There is a groaning of football

through the slit window.

boredom headache

pollen at the lake, seedlings, catkins

a dog pissed on my bag even

while its owner apologised

the freezing salt water washed it off.

it’s a funny, shitty old life

orchestrating anonymous and futile seductions

in the pigeonholes of others

prophesying the necessary revenge to accompany it

my hair was thick with hailstones

felt like a disease when

I ran my hands through it

my cat leapt

from the bathroom windowsill

I heard the sound of falling when

she hit the drainpipe during

the descent

limped to the green bench

such a pretty face!

I cradled her in my arms

she felt tumorous with burrs

distended with ribs, organs

and she bit me and immediately

I whitened around the weals.