Martin Wilson and the Pantomime of Shadows
What he doesn’t like are dinners,
parties, rooms with more than
four people, radios, telephones
and anyone asking him questions.
The sounds circle around like birds
of prey with beaks sharpened,
claws tipped with carbon steel
and wings holding razor blades
ready to rip him apart
cut him up in four different ways
long, short, deep and wide
and trim him down to size.
If that’s not enough
a bright yellow tin can
is tied to his head
with a sign saying
THIS MAN IS STUPID
in case you missed it
the sign says
THIS MAN IS STUPID
Rodney Wood lives in Farnborough, Hants. He retired a few years ago but works part time looking after a granddaughter and volunteering at a local arts centre. He’s had poems published in magazines and anthologies.