George

"Bye then" I shrug at first at least

from the step, looking out at the street,

nothing new. Same street as before

except for the cat,

the one from next door.

He was old though. We’d leave him things

but spurned from our bins said

he wouldn’t come again. So

from one box to another

Six years in one with atom, vial and hammer

now forever the other

Well, forever till worm-shit.

At the table then, late

sauced and in view of a flame I wagging

to ceiling said “this round’s on you,

all in on your name!” She dances

her shoulders, in eyelids and lips

then I echo her smile when she’s counting

my chips, “Guess you are as you were George”

and chuckle relief. “If you’d bailed me out now...”

I might have to grieve.