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Elvin 1998

Miss Bankhead’s Invitation to Dinner

I had seduced everyone from here to Times Square And further. Well, everyone except for her. So I prepared dinner for two, raw fish and candlelight. I told her directions, I told her Tuesday night. If Oppenheim was the Garbo of Montparnasse, then what was she? Late. I expected her for two hours, gave up […]

Tracing His Veins

‘…His…countenance, on which I gazed so long, I thought The world could be reformed by gazing, too’ Laid by his skeleton, a crystalline calcium structure, he sleeps on a mattress. Protein has formed, like tendrils of wood, growing from roots into limbs and branches. They serve the same muscular function, but some silhouette in air […]

Complications Within the Cards

He holds all the cards except the joker. He can bid me to do almost anything and I will follow. His authoritarian airs call upon me to obey. Those that dare to challenge him always lose, and they are few. He holds all the cards except the joker. He can wear a set smile, to […]

Conversation with a Myoman Tree

A tree was waving at my friend, It asked if she believed. My Friend said Yes, she had faith. The tree asked her why. My friend said she was a pestle And the tree said it was a myoma. The tree asked me who I was So I told it I’m a Hustlement – I […]

How to be a Cat’s Eye on the A46

1. If, by rare coincidence, an idiotic pheasant should flounder your way feel free to pluck out its tail feathers. 2. Having a hoard of feathers is useful. One can harass cyclists by entangling such items into the spokes of bicycles. 3. On a dark night, jump about, turn upside down and thoroughly confuse all […]

Storm on the Motorway

Thousands of rice grains battle with Albinonis adagio on Classic FM, Blotted circles of rain, Creatures from microscopes. Vicky fights a free-with-chips-and-beans pink wire Power ranger, Spiny black cotton wool dress sit 2D on a black and blue landscape. Paramedics take the people who couldn’t see through the rain. Others slow and watch The traffic […]

Breakdown

It was because of the spatula she left him. It was squash orange and ugly. The object of his desire. He would hang saucepans and stainless steel spoons On the walls with affection, Breathe on them and tenderly wipe them clear. She bought a new dress, modelled it for him. He glanced up, muttered ‘very […]

Amnesia

I keep forgetting what my name is. Yes. When people ask me for it I pause, embarrassed, wait for my family or friends to explain. The day before yesterday I had to complete a form. My eyes filled with tears. I went next door, looked myself up in their phone book. I resorted to leaving […]

Suspect 10

Make the fire talk about itself. Torture the flames until they splutter the story. Threaten the smoke into revealing its tale. Beat the coal until it spills the beans, And scrutinise the ash. Make the fire talk about itself.

Kraken

Barnacle-studded, nosing through a dense dumb fog steamers of kelp trailing. Forgotten courtiers. Waves, slowly snake-tonguing the rocks, carry it in under the watchful patrol boats and submarines in the lightening depths. Trapped like unwelcome memories in the resistant embrace of the fishing net.

Torn Wallpaper

When I was seven my Dad worked all night to finish painting my room. I lay in bed finding shapes on the ceiling. The wallpaper looked like a map of Brazil or a man in a bowler hat. Last night I was awake, thinking, I couldn’t sleep. Across the hall they were shouting. Round and […]

Home

This house is disappearing. One day I will come home and the windows will have faded into clarity, the wobbles of glass still remaining, imprinted on air. The stairs will be a smear of shadow, the bannisters a line of hinted whiteness dappled across grass. I will stare and stare. My curtains will be only […]

For the Multinational Toy Manufacturers

Thank you TOMY, Matel, Bluebird, Fisherprice Manhatten, Playmo and Tridias For the small plastic things in life. For those cones with Piglet popping out Snaveleys and Squormies Shoepeople and Stormtroopers, Imitation Disney toys by Pisney Called Alanadin and the Hunchback of Notting Hill, Fluppets and Faniland, I love my teletubby It’s fleece is so red. […]

Supported by Arts Council England

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