My Beef Poem by Alistair Graham

I


Marvellous collection of cooked meat
animals fed on grass as green as crayons

Blood-red joker markings on my upper lip
fair-trade organic grape this evening

I walk with a cigarette to the garden
holy smoke about geraniums on the window sill

The seductive leaves, black ink on velvet
the blossom hues draw me close
for love

I stroll to the fenced shrub garden
sit on the bench
funnel smoke through my lips
at brown snails on the wall


II


The Frigidaire meat selection
I slice the beef and roll it
on my tongue

I will greet tomorrow
I shall decide the attire
although part of the day
may hold me in chains

I will eat the tongue of an ox
I will bellow bronzed words
onto 48 sheets
throughout Belfast