Dropped a coin in a buzzing beast
pressed numbers, searched for release
dial-tone like an empty bed
Taste sweet rejection.

See the red on the razor's edge
stare down at the mess you've made
better you than a dead man
Taste sweet rejection.

Forgiven sin blows a still night air
kneel low to avoid the stare
a chill wind shrinks a twisted spine
Taste sweet rejection.

Lost love played on the Devil's hand
cards down with the Joker's grin
drew back, wrapped a world in shame
Taste sweet rejection.

Black dinosaur on the Atlantis dome
drawn curtains to shield the glare
wipes the smile from a proud man's face
Taste sweet rejection.





Take a rest to the sound of chiding
jocular remembering of the worst job I ever had.
Memories fly back, of the stumbling-mumble to a gravel-strained lie

They spat the poppies-cum into an open hole and "Oohed" and "Aahed" in silence.

Tilted, jilted
in my sodden state, when all hope had wilted.

Let them fall to the floor and die with their heroes
Let them find a corner of a legend
Love tore them apart and cost them $50 every time
Like unturned pages they yellowed and battled on regardless.

Communal living, sharing expenses
The unsaid truths, with years as fences.

Pick up where the mind left-off and watch them raise daisies at the foot of tears.








Sitting round a drink talking about my past
living a history repeat
dreaming a shortened breath.

It came walking to a quick-step halt
picking up pieces without bending down
clutched a life tight as Mother so blue, Mary crystal-clean.

Stop the forgiveness smile, for once a grimace.

Sliding faces follow suit
burning thoughts quenched by thirst, taken and laid to rest.

It's night-time now
splinters of the chill
cataracts of thought
too late to start the day again.








With finger on trigger an inch from delight
pleasures known to you alone
lay back as mind takes flight.
A gentle squeeze
now so at ease, at peace and all as one
safe away, your sanctuary
the reason why you've come
your fantasy, your dream come true, what burns you up inside
the hidden part, forgotten lies
the part you just can't hide
you clear them here with gentle grip, with palms that bead with sweat
then when you're done all that remains are memories in a pool so wet.








In the pub with no heart souls leap from glass to glass in the search for a home
the spirit of '76 came twice a night
all sticky and wasted alone.

Loners cradle company
the company thins until a cradle feels lonely once more.

In the pub with no heart the turned backs and raised hands salute more than authority
ginger-haired smoke-stacks regale all with well rehearsed one-liners
the audience agog with the consumer's awe.

Such celebrities
such minor talents.

In the pub with no heart the seeds of a million romances dry to infertility on floors long unwashed
children drop innocence for ownership
teens sit on 25 until 40 kicks a hole in pretence.

The names and faces change while the scenery and conversation is as predictable as ever

In the pub with no heart.








The blood-red Pegasus sits in flames through unopened windows
alcohol dilutes fears and dreams
blood and bruises prove he's alive
violence the effect of his cause

Proudly proclaiming to friends of his value
"Drinks all round"
"Drinks all round".
They toast his generosity as they toasted his defeat
he toasts his well tried endurance.

"Are you crazy"?
"Are you crazy"?
"Do you live the exciting life"?

Cheques on which they scrawled fame
that turned green
that was swallowed whole
that sat unattended in boxes vacated
like the vacated box that sat waiting.