Poetry about Poetry ... original or previously published poetry, June 2001
Playing out a line
The fact we could lose it
was how we knew
that at times we had it in us-
the virtue that evaporates.
If say a woman touches a bloke
in a crowd - he can
feel it go out.
Boy, that might happen even to a vicar.
If you can lack it you know
when you had it - if you perpetrate
a bum line now and then
you still know
about those days you happened
to ball the jack.
Most of your life was lived on the keyboard
you imagine, the 'reality' anyway
whether it was a laugh
or for a while you grew bilious
(we can't help
what electrical impulses do to the brain).
It's quite a responsibility undertaken
while at the same time knowing
you're not indispensable - trying
to cement an image on the
conscience of the mob
of soap viewers Who Want To Be
Millionaires.