When worn is warm

As comfortable as freshly buttered toast

He is used to the poured out scorn

Of other peoples comments

Inlaid in tired and sweaty smelly trainers

With stained track suit bottoms

And blue on blue lettered hoodies

Whilst dark yellowed stained fingers

With just a hint of shake and wobble

Try to roll another perfectly formed handmade cigarette

Twirling twisting spinning

In nimble thimble thin flesh

Hardened claw like nails softly grip

While sultry eyes inspect

Turning the carefully fashioned fag

First this way and then that

Before being placed in the gap

Between his teeth and lit

 

The stubble and cheeks rosy red, purple and grey

Move in time with his lips

As he takes a deep and satisfying drag

Barely more than a whisper can be heard

Above the hardly audible slur

Of largely contented sighs and smacks

As the lids on the eyes flicker and flutter

There own Morse code

That say I’m guaching

But I won’t admit it

As he tries to form sentences that include what sit and thingy

To make sense of all he has done

And all he is doing

 

The constant sting of his ulcerated legs

Give birth to another myth

Of it’s all my own work

And I’m justly proud

Because I know just how much to imbibe

To keep me one step ahead

To keep me alive

But the sting lies deeper

Than the reddened sore

Infection imbedded

Eating away at what was once

Pink and white flesh

So little sympathy expected

And little sympathy given

As soon the leg will go dead and black

And there will be no more feeling

Except the bereavement

For the leg that is missing

The nerves that still itch from the toes that are not there

The shrug and the wink

The offbeat smile

That says yeah so what

I don’t care

I am used to those who judge and stare

Look at me the man with tattooed fingers

With skull like rings

Angry eyes and a deep and rasping

War like cough

His lips wet and sticky

Dark rings around his eyes

Sitting in a chair

Look again if you dare

His eyes now focussed and alert

To see the perfectly fashioned cigarette