His life was a roller-coaster ride

A “Look! No hands!” experience

With the smell of chip fat and gallopers

And the tang of candyfloss on the evening air.

A fairground of tawdry prizes

For the winning.

 

Girls eyes flash as he lights a cigarette

And a gold tooth and a gold earing glitter.

Pretty legs dangle from the ferris wheel,

Fluffy toys are hugged to warm young bosoms.

And all the girls are screaming.

 

The cacophony of music changes

As he moves through the fair.

Tune replaces tune, a collage of sound,

Then, all fade.

 

He’s on the outskirts now,

The edge of the field

Where grass grows rank

And yet sweet smelling.

 

A rustle of petticoats and a hint of Coty

And she’s there.

A Luxsoft cardigan and a string of pearls.

Not long ago a virgin,

Now his girl.

 

And every night she waits for him

As the gentle dark draws in.

And with her pointed pink girls tongue

She kisses soft the gold earing

Licks the blue tattoos

And feels the biting of the golden tooth.