V.1

Landlady’s always angry

So I keep stranger hours

Meditate to TV static

Decorate with fresh flower

V.2

Use the payphone downstairs

Still with a rotary dial

Instant coffee in electric kettle

Takeaway leftovers wrapped in foil

C.1

I will wait for you

In this cold water flat

Paid 3 months in advance

For this walk-up tenement

V.3

I’ve waited near a decade now

Loved other in between

But affections are on hiatus

Until you conquer me

V.4

Complications acknowledged

I’m complicit to the scheme

Reinvention and retribution

Or maybe something in between

C.2

I’m still waiting for you

In this cold water flat

Three storey Victorian lady

I’ve mailed you a scribbled map

V.5

Hot water register yawns

Either freezes of burns

Three coins to run the washer

Dirt spins and I yearn

V.6

Two bricks and stolen planks

Fashion a sturdy coffee table

Year old magazines bore me

Come quickly – as soon as you’re able

V.7

Registered with a fake name

Though i’ve nothing to fear

Endearments terms are wide open

Come by whenever, I’m always here

C.3

I’m here sequestered

In this cold water home

Hinges are rusty squeaky

Mournful jazz saxophone

V.8

Gave up the booze mostly

And usually the smokes

My addictions have changed now

Hooked on lamenting lost hope

V.9

I’m better than you expected

Finer than you’ve wished

My heart is wide open

Like a cliche cinema kiss

C.4

Please come to me

In this cold water room

I’ve survived the winter barely

And desire you so very soon

B.1

There’s a broken bidet

and a persian french cat

striped awning across the street

where strangers wait for a bus

going home to a fresh bottle

cork just popped by a lover

or even a gentle friend –

envy is useless emotion

as is its cousin jealousy

takes all my self-restraint

to maintain dignity

not shout out the window

go home, go quick

love you fools, be loved