Toxic Masculinity

I’ve seen men die under trains, I’ve seen addicts die behind bathroom doors,

I think I’m in a position to know about toxic masculinity.

I’ve prayed to Jesus on my hands and knees like a Muslim.

Minor misgivings

I’ve come back from the hang over, and I’m hanging onto all that’s dear in my life.

My carnations on the dining table, some of them hang their heads, in sympathy.

I sit in Arthur’s cafe with the little red Lisbon tram on the coffee machine.

Some more short poems

1. On a neighborhood walk, little children are playing eye spy.

Eye spy with my little eye something beginning with G.

Garden?, the others guess. Girl? Gate? But I know the answer, it’s God

Seven Eleven

All the dregs of society, are outside the 711,

like it’s the gates of heaven.

I’ve just come for my cheap coffee.

I need four dollars, says one woman, to get back to Preston,

Short poems

1.Gender, come back you little pretender,

wing defender,

it’s not a level playing field.

You don’t remember being in your mother’s womb when the chromosomes chose you,

cancer poems

The plane took off. I sat in the tail and the turbulence was like a teenager trashing his bedroom in a temper.

They lined up for the toilet, I know it’s pointless to be scared of flying, it’s pointless to be scared of dying.

What do you reckon, Brother James?

We trust God, but there’s going to be some collataral damage

Ground control to Major Tom

Maybe you’re like YO YO, the great American celloist, be zealous in your passions, in the healing of music

I’ve got the sun in my eyes with Uncle Jack, killed in the battle of the Somme.

I’ve got a rare family cancer gene, but I’m going to take my chances.

what don’t kill you only makes you strong.

As my cousin’s wife is in hospital with brain cancer, in the season of corona…

A man with amazing boots is on the tram, as the tram sits by Eureka Street, full of peak hour gold diggers.

This morning a little boy is childhood’s hot air balloon, his mother says “sit down” but he’s rising up to the heavens

My unbiquitous reality

Ladies of Hollywood,

I wore my suit and tie and tried to own it,

but if only you had shown me that sunglown kiss,

as the sun comes up in my eyes, when you took me by surprise.