Somewhere Is Another Place

morning glanced through the windows

as night still clung around my eyes and nostrils,

icy stare disturbed an already awkward sleep

mouth dry aftertaste of snoring lingered,

drew coat tighter,

in fingerless gloves hands pale,

enjoying remnants of beer metallic

it quenched first thirst,

i needed a coin for the meter but had none,

a cigarette became source of heat,

i wished for the screech of owls

to disperse sounds of elevating passion

in flat above,

sitting back facing the same windows

frost inside and out,

turned on the radio with life still in

battery pack,

this was it ,this was freedom

i left home a month before and it

now tasted as wary and warm as the

cigarette,

voices in the breakfast basement room,

went on down using fragile stairs,

greeted by smell of sweat, sex and bacon,

others sat at the few tables,

put my hand on Vinnies shoulder

rocking and smiling with his eyes,

mixed up with drugs, psychosis, and depression,

faces always transient,

no one seemed to linger except some

including me,

Mary a prostitute bore long tracks on her arms

folded copy of Turgenev looked after with

sincerity,

slice of toast,

rasher of bacon,

one egg

included in the rent

plate awash with grease and ketchup,

Neil shaved head self inked swastika tattoo,

eat his toast with a malicious silence,

hatred worn on face he never spoke,

scattered remnants of society

those outsiders and non conformists,

clinging to the debris to stay afloat,

Tony with his jack russell puppy

asked if i wanted to see a film,

vhs collection acquired from rental stores,

said i would go for a walk,

taste the morning,

feel it’s breath,

and assess my next moment.

 

 

The experience of leaving home , for any teenager can be a big experience