A STAND-OFF BETWEEN MAN & BEAST The pigeons sit, resting on the wall of A rich old bird who owns one of the muse Houses I back onto, and somehow I grow Transfixed, this weed is really good I Suddenly think, as I stand staring at them As if they’re new friends, wondering aloud Which one will go away first. Which will Dessert me first, like so many others in This sorry excuse for a life, I think as one Moves back down the roof and out of Sight as another turns their back to me but The other two remain, steadfast and strong, Staring right back at me and this stand-off Goes on for a while, I’m maybe even more Stoned than I think, and sure enough it’s me Who grows bored first and, as seems to be The way of this and so many other days, I know It’s time for another smoke, another distraction. I’M DOWN These words came and whispered Sweet nothings in my ear & I knew My muse had returned. A month, a long Long, awful long Month since I last sat down & Laid the words on down But now, at last, I’m down Down enough to know I’ve got to get this down Before I fall any further. TWENTY MINUTES OF GLORY The street of ill-repute has struck again Bringing me a diamond in the rough. I Was walking home, just now, from the Laundry centre, nothing really spectacular To report there, just another of those typical Monthly rituals, when as I walk on heaving All my gear behind me out the door and down The street I run into an old bar-man I know. We exchanged pleasantries for a while and I told him of my frustrations at waiting on A call from a man up top of London Road Waiting on a call A call to come round Buy something good And be gone from there in the blink of an eye. Today however the old bar-man came through As I now sit here, high as I like, listening to the amazing Miles blasting out Sanctuary As at last my appetite returns and In the space of twenty short minutes my life has changed Taken a up-curve on this previously most frustrating of days.
BIOGRAPHY
Bradford Middleton still lives in Brighton on England’s south-coast where he works part-time in a shop and full-time on his words. His latest book, The Whiskey Stings Good Tonight, was recently published by the Alien Buddha Press. Recent poems have appeared in Cajun Mutt Press, Cacti Fur, Fixator Press, Horror Sleaze Trash, Rye Whiskey Review and the glorious Mad Swirl. He tweets occasionally @BradfordMiddle5.