I wake up with a toothache

violin lesson pain

on the lower left side

nothing for it

the infection will drain

to my heart and I’ll probably die

better phone mother

and apologize

I didn’t make it, ma

I’ll email some notes

for the eulogy

and a list of people

not to invite

actually, ask anyone you like

I go out

pace the day like a

beach towel in the spin cycle

Colgate grit crunch at the place

where molars meet

bus

bus

bus, my salvation

I saw one once

crush a man in High Street

apologize to mother

that’s no way to think

but oh so easy

so so easy

I get the five sixty

free food jazz bar shout me a drink

pethidine grapes

I’m no connoisseur

but it feels like a pretty good year

double thumb bass dude

rifling in my entrails

triple crotchet something something

snare

look at all the kids in here

rhythm from the toes

to the tingle tips where lipstick smears

they’re going to make it, ma

lazy youth today look

they’ve nothin’ but the music

that A diminished gonna drain

to my heart and kill me

just like that

imagine that

dropped into a kidney tray

all my fear

with a delicate hi-hat ting

I’ll give it another year, mother

and call you happy birthday