a seam, a suture
the vegetal reputation
slub, snails and too much time
a single trainer emtpy as a throat, its tongue projecting
a mist of shame moves with me
its uses many and nameless
eviserated suitcases
a September dragonfly clatters its wings like failing clockwork
sneering at its own cleverness, the river
slides its banks and bed downstream
like sinuses, the river
clogs and clears its banks
sycamore, knotweed and willow
shiver and strain as the darkness
sifts though them. By morning
trophies hang from branches:
a necklace of ash keys, orange binding twine,
a frisbee with teeth marks, an eviscerated suitcase,
a charred teeshirt.
Autumn walks; weeds recoil
from summer jobs they covered for:
gaping briefcases like smashed clams,
wallets with the gills of their credit card pockets
stripped.