vii) spray paint
(Canto from Larger work – PHYLACTERY)
accidentally italian again
nozzle flecked in tricolore
borrowed back
from the streets of bristol
and new york
grubbier somehow
embossed with vandalism
can dented
thierry noir
cries out from 1984
in protest
splatters red paint
over
dried blood
ducks a searchlight
and dyes
a nation the colour of riots
in 2018
i dodged a police car
grabbed my bag of paints and sprinted
had already left my mark
a toucan
behind me
It was just a taxi not the cops
looking for somewhere to turn around
I doubt he even saw the bright beaked bird on brick
or shadow turning the corner
Sven Stears is a performance poet, artist, and filmmaker. He is the current Reading Slam Grand Champion, Lyra Poetry Festival Grand Champion, and 3 times national finalist. He is currently finishing his Creative Writing MA at the University of Kent.
Website – svenstears.com
Instagram – @Svenstears