The Knit

knits fine clothes
for the lost baby
in her head

husband night after night
rammelled, free with his fists
rangey with drink
a confusion of thread

this night sees him
collapsed on their marital bed
wheezing in an alcoholic haze

takes out her keenest needle
and strongest yarn and he awakes
as the first stitch enters flesh

knocks him out with her
new frying pan and neatly sews
his hair and skin to the mattress

she sees him awake while she crochets
and smiles at his shouts
and blood.

Paul Brookes was poetry performer with “Rats for Love” and his work included in “Rats for Love: The Book”, Bristol Broadsides, 1990. His first chapbook was “The Fabulous Invention Of Barnsley”, Dearne Community Arts, 1993. He has read his work on BBC Radio Bristol and had a creative writing workshop for sixth formers broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live. Recently published in “I Am Not A Silent Poet”, “The Beatnik Cowboy”, “Clear Poetry”, “Red Fez”. Much more about Paul Brookes can be found via his web site by clicking here…