Ageing Gothic Mother 1,2 & 3

Aging Gothic Mother

Flickering hometime neon
A gush of warm air
The Vintage department set me off mockingly against a Cook chill retro pop backdrop
I wrestled loosely with the half-railed knitwear
Under
Nestling
Black wool
Tapered
My size
Foolish
I approached the till without caution
Got my cash out no I don't want a Topshop card thanks I'm bankrupt
These are for your daughter then?
It was too late
My knickerbockers and I had left the building

Aging Gothic Mother 2

There were eight of them
All thirteen or nearly
All boys or nearly
And one grown up woman
badly sneaking in two for the price of one snack multipacks and pulling up my skinny fits
And when I'd finally settled myself down
I sat on my ration
Nearly
One kit kat, one diet coke and a packet of doritos
Put there
Just for me
A thoughtful surprise reminder of picnics past
And presents future to come

Ageing Gothic Mother 3

She needed my birthdate
All it was was
She looked like my mum
changing my address
23/7
she stopped me right there
It's alright
a knowing smile
It's OK
playing on her fingertips
databasing my lips in their stride
winking at me
monitorly
You don't need to give me the year