A sonnet and coke please

a sonnet and coke please

streetlight lies

Streetlight falls and taxis bathe,
hungry in the shadow of the bright
and beautiful, young and old who save
remnants of wage to break upon late night
heartburn in a box made up in grease.
Unknown hands entwine in love, no, lust
and self-induced amnesia brings with it release
from work and home and jobs and lists that must
be finished yesterday. Smiles with forgotten names
swap promises while numbers are thrown and caught
then stored in disguise to avoid the shame
when the partner asks and the face grows hot
with lies. But rest assured that 'never, ever again'
will through the week turn into 'when?'

laugh and disappear

Eyes, red and double glazed bore
holes in me as time delayed tongues spit
with dribbled venom. Hands grip the door
'¦because it's mine!' 'Fuck you, it's mine! I'll hit
you till ye cannae stand then laugh and disappear
as you pick up your face.' I lower my hands
and retreat to the kerb. 'Fair do's mate, it's clear
that here tonight, I'll bow to your demands.'
The taxi pulled away and my ego lay in tatters
until a smile arrived. She laughed as I turned red,
then winked. 'You won you prick, what matters
is that you're still here to take me home to bed.'
Result! Middle finger raised in a goodbye wave
to potential hurt and a night out saved.

the long walk home

An awkward duet serenades the empty night;
high heels hang limp and bare feet tread
with care, to avoid the remains of food long dead.
Rubber arms wave in vain as taxi lights
vanish in a flurry of 'FUCKS and SHIT!'
A step becomes a chair and hands cradle heads
as eyes begin to close and thoughts stray to beds
lying empty. Shivers penetrate cuddles and rain hits
hard as hiccups bring a taste of tomorrow's drouth.
Weary hands raise collars and shoulders hunch; a last
defence in the long walk home, as indiscretion past
and present threaten to ruin promise with truth.
And so it ends; with the kettle's breath and toaster's click,
one half lies sleeping while the other is sick.