Better Days

It’s  damp. So damp our windows cry every morning.

Three of us, arms and legs intertwined .

An octopus of flesh, seeping yellow

on a matress that once tasted only salty white.

 

I close my eyes and think back to long ago.

 

A boy, just twelve years old. Running, playing

kiss chase and you let me catch you.

We did the film star kiss. Mouths moving

like fish eating food. And, just like them I’m hooked.

 

Fourteen and you gave in. My hand under your skirt.

Gently exploring a new world and releasing a passion

 that made our bodies hungry for more.

We happily obliged.. and gorged ourselves.

 

From then on it was just me and you.

 

Nothing and no one else mattered.

Exams were taken and failed.We didn’t care.

Why would we? We had each other.

Parents go fuck yourselves.

 

Eighteen and married. No friends or family,

Just me, you and two strangers  off  the street.

A mad woman and a man that smelt of cabbage.

 It was Us against the world. The world was gonna lose.

 

Our Baby.Sarah.

 

Six months later we had Sarah. So cute

she made our smiles disguise how tough our lives had become.

 No work, no money. Living off social and foodbanks

And that sweet old lady who kept  giving us tins of beans.

 

Your mum offered to take us in. But with conditions.

“Best for the baby” she chants. On and on.

You tell her to go forth and mutiply

I’m so proud of you...

 

Four years old now and I wonder. What if...

 

But a tiny hand touches my face and I’m back in the now.

 I smile. Fuck it. She’s gorgeous and so are you.

We’ve made it this far

Gonna be a better day...today.