Garage Roof Gods
mine is to know us
by sump-oiled ditches
of flowing gossip unproven
or choke-weed culverts,
seldom navigated
sour milk teardrops
over kicked-in fences
burnt tattoos, gutter-flung Ratners
pins and needles afternoons
was drunk! defences
such were the days,
years of tall stories
through UHU headclamps
river bank drinking
and Sunday league glories
gut laughter, spat whispers
hoarse throat accusers,
petty arson n damp-hedge sex,
the borstal diaries
of soon to run losers
with Stanley precision and
big men in leather
mouths slack, punched glass
fiddled metres and
Kay’s dreams forever n never
for mine is the kingdom,
Amen
Gary Studley is an artist, writer and Canterbury Roman Museum’s Poet in Residence. As one of the Canterbury Festival’s Laureate Squad he’s performed at many festivals and runs writing workshops. Gary also teaches art and lives on the Kent coast.