Text Message Poem by Alistair Graham

It’s dark and dismal
in damp and dirty Belfast,
the road to work, is
a greasy liquorice snake

My first day back since leaving
you in England; emails
demanding and wanting,
to high-heaven are piled up

I could bloody well clear
the desk of its’ contents
swipe from its’ top, the letter
trays and date stamp, the paper

clips and telephone
and the computer; let it crash
the whole lot on the floor,
and I could

Instead, I fill the kettle,
wash cups for coffee;
the first day back
always looks like this only

this time is different
not how I knew it when
I left a week ago, though
probably by lunch-

time the sun will show,
the emails will be kicked
into touch and this moment,
this now moment will be

gone just like yesterday,
last week, last year; gone
like my first day at school
and the sun,

if it doesn’t show
by lunchtime then maybe
tomorrow. Have a good day
at Uni, son