Live Encounters Poetry & Writing Volume Five November-December 2024
Back to the Hut, poems by Les Wicks.
Back to the Hut
London once called. Or Perth.
There was a promised car
shiny namebadge & login code. We all left.
Had for years glammed up or down
wore ties or lippy or rivers.
We’d whatever-it-took within a fluid reason.
Perhaps we became hollowed,
needed a new shadow or cause.
So much to give
not too much of it ours.
Found things out
forgot so much.
Sometimes we walked away
a cardboard box brimmed with our awards
& secret failings.
Other times we were monsters
& monsters must be killed.
This time later
are we the sum of our leaving
or the returns?
Modified With Chopper Handles
Barry takes his mobility scooter up my street
for coffee every morning at 9.00
& drinks at the club at 5.30.
Hope through habit has defeated fragility —
he rides on the wrong side of the road.
No worries mate.
For every question
& each ignored suggestion
Spark
if there are enough corners
we will be a circle
those corners disappear our planet isnt flat
the mistakes ive made
need a teacher with the wisdom
to pile all my lists & say
this is now a bonfire
no promise of enduring warmth
but any bright moment is precious
© Les Wicks
Les Wicks has been published across 38 countries in 17 languages. His 15th book of poetry is Time Taken – New & Selected (Puncher & Wattmann, 2022). He can be found at https://leswicks.tripod.com/lw.htm