a pilot’s morning, flat calm
& the sweet smell of day
squadrons doff their shells
lift off & sweep the bay
where morning sun & winos meet
this is my tense
i glide between masts & chains
foretelling accidents
not a breath of wind, still grains
of salt hurtle through the streets
the ragged cast’s assembled
& are perched upon their seats
& the captain’s orders
“i only want the fittest of the bunch”
me, i’m merely here for lunch
a flap-flap of the wings
a flap-flap of the wings
a flap-flap of the wings
keeps me motionless
now the councillor is taking coffee with his scrambled eggs
wise & fat, he survives by knowing what will happen next
& the pavement is a work of art, everyone knows it is
& god isn’t interested in our comfort, neither are we in his
crooks they ride on bicycles, business women jog
well dressed devils in tell-tale hats out to walk the dog
on the fire-escape the cleaning lady mutters underneath her breath
“goody-goods, goody-goods, let me wring your necks”
a flap-flap of the wings keeps me motionless
