lines raised pitted skin

teenage     scarification

in no sleeves displayed

Nick Hornby talk     to

Mississippi

river-boat captain

loaned     a fancy-dress muddle

of John Gray self

help     general     i

am going dancing with

a flea-market prejudice at

folk all -er than her

whose mouth curls     the corner like

a contact-lens on an

electric oven

hob     mispronounces

vehemence     suspicion I'm

at the wrong place     as

the distance grows

Salford>Didsbury>Sheffield

between us     a 6 month campaign

culminating in this

the goon in the clown suit

witters on     wittlessly

occurring to me     I     might

cry      but I don't

I just leave once     thoroughly

drunk