October 21
slide the lock
turn back the clock
to free
to how it used to be
well….
not really
but it will have to do
we knew
this day would come
eventually
cracked on, we did,
in hope
the sun would one day rise
on something new
that we would see
the back of
same ol’ same ol’
fortress life
inside the compound
pacing out the pavers
of our soft suburban cells
with nothing more to do
than make it through
to wine o’clock
that lock is rusted over now
with bitter tears
and routine disappointment
a city full of institutionalised lags all Stockholm Syndrome is what we have become breathless in trepidation of the outside world a rag-tag band of bogans bogged down in our ugg boots bra-less shameless in our tracky dacks zoom-tired eyes that haven’t seen the lash of the mascara wand or shadow blink out now at this strange new tomorrow this scared new world of liberty that will be okay we know but it will never go the way it used to go.
See also poems read out loud at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9uLwxslE_VQ-fu-Dw6gdIA/playlists
My book of poems, A Day At A Time In Rhyme (Littlefox Press) can be found here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Day-At-Time-Rhyme/dp/0648083861/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=A+Day+At+A+Time+In+Rhyme+Jane+Clifton&qid=1572053238&sr=8-1
or on the SHOP page of this very website.
Last year’s collection Fewer Curs available on demand