For Wilfred Owen
Contains strong language
our bodies ache on the streets where we rattle plastic cans
for change we watch the flocks of low drooping eyes
scuttle by like brambles in the north wind we
have become part of the scene patient hopeful crying out
but nothing happens
on the corner a preacher belts God’s wrath on queers I can hear
the snare tone of his voice as he echoes verse from the
tatty bible he clutches there are few who stop and listen
to the dull rumour of God’s war on fags and wonder
what are we doing here
across the street a man tugs the last cloud from his cigarette
lets his eyes wander up the pleated skirt of a
woman at the bus stop she fans herself from the wet heat
her eyes hoping to catch a glimpse of that mottled red transport
but nothing happens
the man catches a peek of the sun’s irrevocable innocence
in her bronzed shoulders then looks across at us
at our banner chews his distaste as if it is milk freshly off
cocks his mouth as if ready to fire his first warning shot
but nothing happens
leaves collect in the street band together to line the kerb
like bouncers we are the impatient sober waiting
for entry to watch our brothers and lovers dancing with
winged expressions of surrender so this is where we end up
is it that we are dying
Johno asks Wilf should we call it a day stares down into his near
empty can at the piss-poor pennies dripped from unfeeling
hands says they don’t give a shit about us never have
says if they did they’d save us says we don’t have nobody but us
we turn back to our dying
a newspaper reads Britain threatened by gay virus plague spits
our invasion of their land shrieks the contagion of
our love lauds the purification of our dying smirks at
our ashes spilling like mountains disintegrating beneath their youth
for love of God seems dying
tonight we will drag our ghosts home to our one already measuring
their hole in the ground jokes I probably shouldn’t put on
any weight else I won’t fit smiles like the crushed tablet taken
twice daily says when we’re all gone that’s when they’ll notice
but nothing happens