06-13-2013, 12:00 AM
Hi - this is my first poem here. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with you all. Takooba (Michael Willoughby)
Letter from the Ice Age
I used to dream of having a piss
instead of having to go in the cold.
When I woke up, I was still bursting,
so I got out and weed.
But it was another dream.
One night I sleep-peed in my chest-of-drawers.
Those Februaries
before double-glazing,
and central heating.
We had to dress in front of the fire
to spare the pain of cold, bare flesh.
At night, indoors wasn’t enough
you had to be in something else;
two jumpers,
two pairs of socks
a rug, two blankets.
Cracks let in ice jets of air.
I still have to be sealed
hermetically
under the duvet.
Clouds of steam
from the hot tap,
the draining potatoes;
sheets of crystal spreading
over the inside of sash windows…
The coal man wrestling unruly sacks
brought us joy to feed the Aga
for a nightly life-bath.
I would prod the logs in the fireplace
for a crackle and glow,
wishing I could take one to bed.
—-
In Cumbria, I saw an old man, alone,
in sack-like tweed of Dunduckerty mud,
a green wool tie.
Everyone used to dress that way.
Letter from the Ice Age
I used to dream of having a piss
instead of having to go in the cold.
When I woke up, I was still bursting,
so I got out and weed.
But it was another dream.
One night I sleep-peed in my chest-of-drawers.
Those Februaries
before double-glazing,
and central heating.
We had to dress in front of the fire
to spare the pain of cold, bare flesh.
At night, indoors wasn’t enough
you had to be in something else;
two jumpers,
two pairs of socks
a rug, two blankets.
Cracks let in ice jets of air.
I still have to be sealed
hermetically
under the duvet.
Clouds of steam
from the hot tap,
the draining potatoes;
sheets of crystal spreading
over the inside of sash windows…
The coal man wrestling unruly sacks
brought us joy to feed the Aga
for a nightly life-bath.
I would prod the logs in the fireplace
for a crackle and glow,
wishing I could take one to bed.
—-
In Cumbria, I saw an old man, alone,
in sack-like tweed of Dunduckerty mud,
a green wool tie.
Everyone used to dress that way.