Out From… The Clash!

by Paul Tristram / May 30th, 2021

I caught three scruffy urchins
in a dismal alley corner
… trying to drown a magpie
inside a dented, metal bucket.
It was half-fighting back
… exhausted yet struggling,
as its black and white friend
rasped and called siren-like
from frantic wall to gate top.
“Two for Joy!” I yelled,
foot-knocking over the bucket,
then clapping hands together
with such an almighty smack
that I half-frightened myself.
The wet, disoriented bird
was free, yet side-walking
the cobbles like a drunkard.
I scooped it up, to a shed roof,
it pecked me as I did so…
I smiled, a very weary smile
at the ‘Battle’ still inside,
this feisty, little miracle…
who could now fly unfettered
to dawn another early morning.

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’ is available to purchase right here . Also his collection of shorter fiction Kicking Back Drunk ‘Round The Candletree Graves' is available to purchase at https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0DFMTSR4F Both books are published by Close To The Bone Publishing. Read other articles by Paul, or visit Paul's website.

This article was posted on Sunday, May 30th, 2021 at 8:03am and is filed under Poetry.