it’s three bells
amplified
at the Arts & Media School

someone is breaking up
axing out
paving stones
in the quarry
malet bangs

the crocodile moves in
and spills the nuclear family
easing out the corners

I speak to people
They stop me on the street
They say, Betty, Betty,
This isn’t right
He must come and speak to us
In the event of any war

there’s a red curve on my cornea
a strange sickle
from the street’s dust
which allows me to see everything
with my customary myopia

the archbishop designate
is worried that we see everything long range
and only God sees close to
he must be thinking of sparrows
which no longer fall
due to double glazing

2

few people at work
emails for absence
notes from a small office
messages from the Transition Advisory Board
we are in the process of being abolished
for the last two years

It’s been endless all morning
Angeline complains
Nothing but personal accounts
or George Bush
or stuff on Iraq

no transition without abolition
messages from the
Modernisation Action Board
modernise
moder
mode
mod
mo                      mo

mooder              mooder