Three short poems about intimacy

1: THE BOXER AND THE BAILIFF

The boxer, the Champ
battered black skin
blue
having defended his belts
does not go to sycophantic champagnathons
to be paparazzied on daybreak, a clich? on each arm,
untied bow-tie, pressing his nostril, sniffing, snivelling
round gangsters.

The boxer goes home
to his lover
for cuddling, soothing cream, steaks not to be spat out,
earbuds up nose, nape-in-other's-groin DVD watching.

The bailiff, the hard case,
the bald colossus
the big bad ex-bouncer
won't sniff out trouble in boozers after
jogging with televisions, told how much he must love his job,
asked if he was happy now, sleeping habits enquired about.

The bailiff goes home
to his lover
whom he dotes on; loves the big bones of;
for whom he cooks, borrows repossessed vids, becomes
a human cushion.

The boxer and the bailiff
have been intimate
for some time.

2: ACCOUNTABLE

i don't really write poetry
don't get it

but since you've joined our finance department
i've wanted you to float your love on the market
so I could merge with you
buy up a majority shareholding in your soul

in this valentine card: a proposal, a five-year plan
with targets and objectives for a partnership
which are flexible, like mortgages
which are risky like pensions

and did i mention
because you ought to know
i've invested unwisely before
i'm emotionally bankrupt
the bottom fell out of me
like property in the eighties

but my value would rise
i would make micro-economic sense
i'd be stable as a government bond

with your sponsorship

3: HOW TO REALLY DO A LITTLE BOY'S HEAD IN

Teach him some manners; that you're the boss.
Never be too intimate; or let your guard down.
Keep him on his toes. Shout at him occasionally.
If he doesn't eat the meal in front of him, he doesn't eat.
If his homework is rubbish, tell him so.
Demystify reproduction by showing him live cattle mating.
Put his unsuitable friends down.
Bully his mum so he knows what the real world is like.
Threaten to stop his pocket money when he snubs a healthy boy's
interest.
Most of all, he must learn that your way is the only way.
And it needs to be passed on, down, and around.