After Hutton

A folded one shot Romeo
as they throw him on the slab
all buffed up with brilliantine
combed tightly before the dance

and no one really knew his name then
but they swore he could cut a rug
so they parade his gold teeth and secret life
around the blood alleys for a laugh

they smash the glass of history
whilst stoking the fires to an ache
a damp diary and a ticking watch remain
to time the stories of an undone faith