Eratio


 

 


17 Wake-up Calls for Tom Beckett

 

Mark Young

 

 

 

 

1. Urine in the Blood


At the tone the
time will be
The Ides of March.

 


2. Shortness of Breath


At the time the
tune will be
50 Ways to
Leave your Lover
.

 


3. Mis-spelling Words


At the tine
the paths
will fork.

 


4. Forgetting Where You Are


At the Tyne
the city
could be Newcastle.

 


5. Difficulty in Swallowing


At the time the
tongue will
be furry.

 

6. Back Pains


At the turn the
theme will be
Ol’ Man River.

 


7. Failing Eyesight


At The Tate
the theme
will be Francis Bacon.

 

 

8. Disorientation


At the tête-à-tête
the toke will
be Pakistani Black.

 


9. Short Attention Span


At the time
the tale will
seem pointless.

 


10. Poor Hearing


At the tail \
a dog ends.

 


11. Intolerance


Any talk at the

time was taut —
no tautologies.

 

12. A Difficulty in Discerning Flavors


It seemed sage
at the thyme.

 


13. Short Temper


At the tone
he took
umbrage.

 


14. Erectile Dysfunction


Came the time &
he took Viagra.
Came several times.

 


15. Going to Fat


The muscle tone
for the rest of
time is poor.

 

 

16. High Blood Pressure


At the time he
took a turn.

As a poet, it
was a turn
for the verse.


17. Seeking Forgiveness


Time
for
atone-
ment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Young lives in a small town in North Queensland in Australia, & has been publishing poetry for almost sixty years.  He is the author of over forty books, primarily text poetry but also including speculative fiction, vispo, & art history.  His work has been widely anthologized, & his essays & poetry translated into a number of languages.  His most recent books are Ley Lines & bricolage, both from gradient books of Finland, The Chorus of the Sphinxes, from Moria Books in Chicago, & some more strange meteorites, from Meritage & i.e. Press, California / New York.

 

 


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