The smashed front window
is like a new mouth on the high street -
a Ginsbergian howl that vomits
shopping trolleys ablaze.
Inside, frosted eyes
and peppergum shards
of fractured glass
crackle and hiss
in the heated atmosphere
of this riotous night.
Paddy, Zoltan, Katie
and Apple -
the customers fled
with their mouths full
as madness swept
the street like a prophetic broom.
Now only Milton remains
at a perspex table for one
eating crisps and
a prawn sandwich -
an old nobel ghost
talking disaster capitalism
with Margaret, his
imaginary friend.
A petrol bomb
scents the night air;
riot brigade no. 5 (mayor's division)
tool up, assemble and charge.
Margaret (not at her best these days),
parched and scared,
assaults an ambulanceman
with her handbag
slugs an NHS blood spill kit
to quench her thirst.
Milton chews and chews
and shrugs -
spits prawn-shell
onto his plate at the memory.
He's frequented burnt-out
diners before
in Chicago, Rejkjavik,
Santiago (September, 1973).
Any moment now the flame-grilled door
will fall off its hinges
and a girl will appear
wearing slinky jheri curls
carrying shiny black shoes
liberated from Clarks.
She will be hungry. Confused.
She gave the feds what was coming.
Milton’s ghost will hold out
his hands and say: "Welcome
to paradise - take all
that I have."
Comments
Blessing | January 19, 2012 - 15:51
As vivid as the pictures in the media, your poem encapsulates it all in motion.
Kilb50 | January 19, 2012 - 17:23
Many thanks and best wishes to you Blessing.
lenchenelf | January 19, 2012 - 18:16
You could have let the images fall as acid drops, but you didn't; carefully controlled, good stuff.
all the best
Lena xx
Kilb50 | January 19, 2012 - 18:22
Thanks Lena.
Silver Spun Sand | January 19, 2012 - 19:15
The best of luck with the competition, Kib. A strong entry indeed;-)
Tina
Kilb50 | January 19, 2012 - 19:18
Many thanks Silver and all best wishes to you too!
Denzella | January 20, 2012 - 09:26
Hello kilb50,
Strong Entry. Milton Friedman...not heard that name in a long while.
Really liked your clever allusions to the riots.
Good luck with the competition.
fatboy74 | January 20, 2012 - 15:42
I think this is rather good Kilb to say the least - great to see you having a go at the comp as well. Good luck. :-)
Kilb50 | January 20, 2012 - 15:52
Many thanks for your comments Denzella & fb!
Yume1254 | January 24, 2012 - 20:26
I felt every word - lovely poem, Kilbo50.
Y.
tcook | February 17, 2012 - 15:22
This is not only the winner of competition but also our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day.
Join us on Facebook at ABCtales.com
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Get a great reading recommendation most days.
albamac | February 17, 2012 - 17:40
A smashing poem grabs the prize!
Congratulations, kilb50!
Kilb50 | February 17, 2012 - 17:50
Many thanks albamac! Best wishes to you.
Stan | February 17, 2012 - 19:06
Brilliant! Well done on the prize. I expect to see this in an anthology. It's got that feel - contemporary, topical... and oh so relevant. The sort of poem that'll bring people back to poetry.
Kilb50 | February 17, 2012 - 19:25
Stan - Many thanks for your generous comment. Hmmm...an Anthology of Riotous Poetry...certainly got a ring to it!
Denzella | February 17, 2012 - 20:40
hello kilb50
Well done on winning the competition and very well deserved it was too!
Kilb50 | February 17, 2012 - 21:32
Denzella - Many thanks and best wishes to you.
Silver Spun Sand | February 18, 2012 - 13:56
Many congratulations on the competition, Kib. More than well deserved;-)
Tina
Judygee | February 18, 2012 - 18:54
Awesome entry and a well deserved win. Many congrats.
Judy
Kilb50 | February 19, 2012 - 01:00
Many thanks Silver.
hudsonmoon | February 19, 2012 - 17:43
Congratulations, as well. Well earned. Brilliant stuff.
Rich
Kilb50 | February 19, 2012 - 20:01
Many thanks Judy and Rich.
fatboy74 | February 22, 2012 - 14:13
yes, fully deserving, my own personal favourite as well, congrats Kilb. :-)
Arthur Ray | February 22, 2012 - 16:53
Well-deserved win mate. Great poem.
Kilb50 | March 8, 2012 - 22:14
Many thanks fb & Arthur Ray.