Index







The grumpy old man






The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures
Has captured time
In well-rehearsed and
Regular trembling
Each movement marking its painful passage
To the blackness
Of a think-free night
Of a dreamless void


The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures
Laughs silently now
In disowned mirth
Each soft guffaw
Pulsed with shaking
Laced with timorous tears
And fears of lone


The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures
Feels his aching limbs
And feeble gait
And slumps and slumps
Under the crushing
Expectation


The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures
Cries silently
Love love he cries
Cling to love
Still he cries


The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures
Sighs without
Breath he sighs
With clayed breath


The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures
Of life
Of death
Lies


The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures
Trembles
Still


The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures
Weeps


No more


The grumpy old man
With the claustrophobic pictures


Was a father once


No more




Rick Birley
2008