I have wrestled with sorrows
pried the coffins of a thousand vampires
to slay some dormant shame

my car is getting a service
ran out of fags this evening
half-way down the stairs . . oh fuck

we humans differ from the animals
they tend to their needs
roll with the punches
we just tend to throw them

hi, this is Ciarán
please leave a message after the tone
right now, I’m elsewhere
and have been for quite some time

I’ve heard the acclamations
of bathers at my fountain
just struts of validation
that snap when straws surmount them

World, I give you screaming fingers
fingers still that in you linger
buying stamps and posting letters
mainly faking my lack better

I recall the Berlin wall
I recall its wobble, fall
remember too the Provos’ war
the tricolours in ’94

a Friday night in Horse-shit town
the hour when the sun goes down
I walked among its peacock streets
that gobbled chaff as golden wheat

I’m manic depressive
I’m up down infected
for each of my heavens
a hell came connected