mathewferguson.com

Those angels with their words

Morning fresh, hastily dressed

A new day and they’re out the door

Last night fading away

A bar, a whisper, a kiss

A bite on the arm and wings

Halo slipping off

Angel out the door and away

To carry on their good work

Loving the lost, the lonely

In direct application

The deal, my love:

Some biting, sure

A few fights

Some string, tight

Perhaps some kneeling

Supplication and submission

Perhaps some shouting

The deal, fair no?

Tell me once more

Your demands

Yes my darling heart it’s true what I wrote

Not just some story, not just some poem

Not an idle twist of words from imagination

But crisp truth pulled together and presented

That story about the girl with the piercing?

That poem about tying the other one up?

That line about dark-eyed hordes?

Those words were true true true

Of course those other ones were true too

The servants made out of candy and my jelly horse

Travelling to the sun and back, charring six good men

The ghost of the robot who lurks downstairs

Before  I met you I lived an extraordinary life

That scar on my hand isn’t from some simple mistake

Those made-up words I use aren’t made up at all

I learned a language in the afternow and fought the hazelburbs

I whilloped well and zambolled most eagerly

I only returned to dally with you a moment

Then it is back to my adventures!

ALL that matters!

(as a cat)

is to purr and chase and get a little warm spot to sleep

ALL that matters!

(as a fish)

is swim in the group and think about architecture

ALL that matters!

(as a building)

is to stand perfectly still so they don’t know you’re alive

ALL that matters!

(as a planet)

is to tease a star but never kiss

ALL that matters!

(as an elf)

is to live in a gumdrop house and invest in the share market

ALL that matters!

(as a jew)

is to make jokes about doctors/lawyers and be a doctor/lawyer

ALL that matters!

(as a particle)

is to steal beer and fuck your best friend’s wife

ALL that matters!

is ALL that matters!

i was at work talking words

some pointless lunch conversation

and then i was at home

heart thudding

sweating

holding a metal garden spike in my hand

feet aching

i’d been running

my shirt was torn

blood on my knuckles

dirt under my fingertips

i thought

thank you!

psychotic break

i’ll take it!

i need something

to spice

up

the days

she awoke and found her husband turned to ash

his form crumbled as she pulled back the sheet

but he was mostly perfect, fine lines and hair and patterned pyjamas

transcribed in shades of grey and white

the sheets were slightly crisp

signs of some intense heat

she hadn’t felt a thing

but then

for years in bed

with him

she hadn’t felt a thing

she looked at ash face

and saw it peaceful

mouth half-open

probably snoring when it happened

she was a little delighted

and that delight came

with a little sorrow

she was delighted he had surprised her

for the first time in years

she was sorry he had to combust

to do it

Oh you, my dead end

My favourite cul de sac

Turning tired, drinks and music

Hey, my queen size bed!

It was quite curious for Dad to say, hey

I don’t believe in you

Not that he doesn’t support nor trust

But that my very existence is at question

Well clearly I’m here I said but nope

Comeback: it’s all hallucination

A tumour perhaps, brain injury dementia

I briefly considered a smack in the mouth

Perhaps breaking his shit

Decided I couldn’t be fucked

Turned to the unicorn and said let’s go

she looks like a diamond thief whispered my mother

and i’m suddenly happy we made up a fake meeting story

a swing dancing class three weeks ago

not www.dateadiamondthief.com