Cleft

Everything is Blacker
underneath
the overhang of your
[Dazzling] ‘Smile’.
That’s not just any
old man dangling
from that tree branch
it’s a ‘Saviour’.
I once heard talk
of him bravely
running into a burning
house and saving
three infant sisters.
I put a STOP to That
without singeing
a single hair…
because I’m cleverer!
I’m watching the
[Adoring] Mirror
and the Road Ahead
for any and every
Sign of SHINE…
before ‘Applause’
and ‘Encouragement’
rots the day
away from my Centre.

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.