The Night Swansea Sound Radio Station Put The Phone Down On Me

“…yes, you’ve answered.
I’ve done it.
I’ve got a book published.
In America.
Little Old Me
from the backstreets
and council estates of Neath.”

“Are you inebriated?”

“Of course I am!
Aren’t you listening,
I’m celebrating.”

“Drunk callers are not welcome
at this radio station.
Besides, you’re a liar,
whoever you are?
‘THEY’ don’t publish
people from the backstreets
and council estates of Neath.
Ha! no one’s interested
in all of that horribleness.
This is a wind-up.
You’re going to give me
your gang-name in a minute,
hoping that I’ll say it live on air.
So your friends and family
who are in Swansea Prison
and listening right now
Can be proud of you
for getting a shout out
on the graveyard shift.
Well, not on my watch, buster
go away… and overdose!”

Paul Tristram is a widely published Welsh writer who deals in the Lowlife, Outsider, and Outlaw genres.  He wrote his first poem as a teenager following his release from the (Infamous) Borstal ‘HMP Portland’, and he has been creating Literary Terrorism ever since.  His novel ‘Crazy Like Emotion’ published by Close To The Bone Publishing is available to purchase right here Read other articles by Paul, or visit Paul's website.