I discovered a bird with a hook in its mouth,

which is really just a cheap opening line.

‘Cheap’ will evoke the sound of the bird.

Like me you have to question the point.

I’m tugging but it’s such a rusty hook.

I should’ve mentioned that from the start.

Find a gap higher up, try easing it in.

If it doesn’t fit come back and go on.

Where do you expect the bird to be?

I’ve made up a nest in the laundry.

There’s a friendly vet in a nearby village

but they’re called towns, this is not England.

So I wake at night with a drop feeder.

I’m having trouble but misspelt ‘trouble’.

Instead I wrote ‘ruble’, then corrected it.

That’s not an image, just a footnote.

Every strong line must snap somewhere.

And now we’re all stuck in the laundry.

What are the bones? A bird, an old hook,

or the audience in my head which is ruble?

Help! Your blasted shadow’s in the way,

something longs to be free from my grip,

twisting the hook of a made up bird.

No telling how to get you out.