Margaret Alice Second (24 January 1961 / South Africa)

Oh dear, Quasimodo came to work today,
the hunchback too big for my chair, the
shoulders broad and malformed, the eyes
unfocused and mind scrambled by rambles
through the towers and tops of Notre Dame
and hearing impaired by the bells he has to
keep ringing at all times

Quasimodo didn't make his presence felt until
he suddenly surfaced as I looked in the mirror
wondering who was this person inhabiting my
mind today, by the way Quasimodo affected
my appearance I recognised him and wished
he would go away, but here he sits in my place,
refusing to talk to anyone

As I insist he must be friendly - he threatens to
crinkle my face if I should bother him anymore
he has already consumed breakfast and lunch
and now he is looking for vengeance because
I have nothing else to feed him and he is bored
with existence as nothing is happening and this
will continue all day…

Friday 22 February 2013