The Escalator Up From Quadrant 9

by Paul Tristram / October 24th, 2021

I have been practicing my moves
in the Communal Showers
at 4am… when I am alone.
I can work around the Guards
… but, those Cameras alert
to any form of rhythm change.
I observed old No. 47
nod off to sleep, 2 weeks ago
… his face dipped forward
almost in s-l-o-w m-o-t-i-o-n
… as soon as the Machinery
bit the end of his nose…
it dragged him in with a Crunch
… until his shoulders jammed.
No. 18 [instinctively] pushes…
I can use this to my advantage,
if I can get the ‘Timing’ perfect
… like a dance manoeuvre …
I can pinball backwards rapidly
… feigning loss of Control…
and wallop that Bastard No. 26
in his Back with my Back…
sending him forward into Death.

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. Read other articles by Paul, or visit Paul's website.

This article was posted on Sunday, October 24th, 2021 at 8:02am and is filed under Poetry.