In This Furnace Of The Lighted Edge, A True Hero For Our Time

look
now will you look at that
felled brutally felled old testament
and in his prime
twenty-four
near the forward line
sliced down
cynically scythed by a devious coward
not surprising though
for we should all know by now
this is what they are all like
each and every one of them
but even in such a conflict there are rules..

writhing anguished on the unyielding ground
in this furnace of the lighted edge
his face contorted in the muddied slosh
eyes watering  stinging from flares and smoke bombs
the pain shoots like silver lightening up his spine..

and while prone and with little mobility
clear as a bell like terminal lucidity
when you are in this so-called game you know
you know such a thing might happen
comes with the territory
many have fallen before you without ceremony
you know that..

in sharp waves the pain roils
he twists and open-mouthed silently screams..
there is a melee and curses
a whistle and gruff shouts as the cavalry arrive
they race towards him
then protectively surround..

deftly three or four men examine him
then one stares straight into his eyes
it is bad i cannot lie to you
get ready we are going to lift you
possible evac on standby we have a carrier..

ferried away on the stretcher
he proudly raises an arm to show his men
carry on carry on..
and what sounds like circuiting fried electric rain replies
not only in his mind..

though sweating and losing consciousness
he has shown all that he has the bottle
he has to be the shining example
but his heart sinks when the medic whispers ominous
captain afraid it looks like a suspected torn metatarsal
you could be out for up to six weeks..

Signal-Crash-Black Mirror

amidst the slow-flowing rubber and steel and carbon
two electric vehicles sloppily grazed a kiss
two green drivers puce emerged and also soft-collided
collided like two binliners of hot air on spindly legs
both reeled seeing their dream-trolleys creased
one driver remonstrated by pointing down the street
while the other slowly tapped at his brow with his keyless keys..

a gaggle of teenage brats chemical-chicken wings-addled
gawked and gargle-giggled like a pack of possessed hyenas
machine-gun rabid laughter staccato peeled nearby plaster
while the lolling lollipop lady took a tasteful selfie
one arm stretched with wand at the carbon-neutral prang
all lop-sided smirk with a wink for the send
then she ambled back to the pavement
and thumbed a senryu message for the intended..

a pub window-gazer sprang masked/ driipped fume-blue chin
he also drew out his black mirror for much ado about nothing 
for the prangees now seemed as if engaged in strange tai chi
they posed knees bent framing insurance-claim photos expertly
and though all details were exchanged politely
a dawdling something-warden beckoned them both to him
ignored
so he sulkily began logging their registration numbers
and.encore the whole thing again kicked off..

united both drivers explained their issue had been resolved entre nous
but the something-warden was having none of it and called the police
passing gunslingers in telepathic unison re-readied their camera eyes
as car horns blared a cacophony of 7/4 jammed-driver-time
distant sirens became ever more distant then faded bestilled
no flashing blue lights appeared as backed-up traffic hissed
eventually both men floated back to their semi-recyclable significances
with the something-warden left alone bag-holding the indifference..

Reflect The Flaming Grace Of The NPC State

would you like to appear sane to the non-player character state
a state that traverses your everyday highways
sliding in and out with that imitable insouciance
an elegance often enhanced with a serenity chemically advanced
the reflected grace of softly liquidised landscaped windows
lavender-scented eyes lacquered for sleep..

then step this way
or step this way
for we always give you up to two choices
this way or this way
and it is always your choice
yes it is always this easy
this or this
side a or side b
stay in our lane
stay informed
appropriately pensive
play either side of the mp3
fight the sentient carbon unit menace..

snuggle-up nice and warm
gently meander through your choice of mainstream-everything
all the appointed practitioners
our satyrs your influencers
our given everything is your received everything
these are the gifts we bring
never listen to the weird ones
the weird ones with their twisted contrarianism
our demiurge shall never forgive them..

put them on ignore
or even better
mock them incessantly
show them the error of their malcontent ways
course-correct them from a safe distance with concern trolling triage
a true act of kindness
ministrate..

never be discouraged should they not insult you in return
for they are only testing you
and should they ignore your well-thought jibes
by politely replying with false earnestness
then you know you have defeated them
ad hominem cruelty is a valid expression of rejection
and never ever suffer silence with self-reflection
it never pays
the really effective messengers are recruited for our elite brigade..

laugh along with all the white noise
feel enlivened by the static charge stasis
gracefully oscillate between the seasonally flavoured hates and fears
permanently lend us your ears
for we have your back
so have another beer as we bomb back better
and before that boring genocide
here is your weather
the nps state will help you sleep better..

Supercrash Haiku

final market crash –
make the killing on killing
chaos to the moon..

Old MadDonald (2012) Part 1

A Half-Trash Gentleman Surveys His English Garden

surveying my awkward unshorn garden
replete with weeds and toxic moss
the lurid green tresses gloam luminous ludicrous
swaying knives beneath the smoky slate-grey sky
a small side-salad slice of faux nature
for domesticated fat cats to prowl visibly bored..

surveying my must-try-harder garden
with a broken fence and wobbly washing pole
the lime bench paint is cracked and faded
birds piss on its peeling skin just the same
as they karaoke timid love songs
duetting a typanic rattling roof drain..

man-made garden
harvests a half-trash man
catching some fresh electro-magnetic smog rays
while pondering another dead-on-arrival escape masterplan..

there is a beach somewhere
and with my name emblazoning it in neon mercury filigree
is a leaning castle of legless sand
interest rates shall go up agan
and as another wave rolls in
rolls in to kindly make way for another
the castle tumbles
the seaweed provides for itself iodine..

you might ask
so when will there be a revolution
when the billionares are reduced to mere millionares
they will bravely fight to their last citizen
the trillionaire bankers have their reasons
but at least for a while yet
i shall gently sink in the garden..

Dear Fluffy Little Clouds In Our Safe, Your Unique Password Is “Password”

state-sanctioned murder
                 unfortunate killings
                       collateral damage
                                unintended consequences..

another operator error
another technical glitch
another disappointing episode to rue
another isolated incident entirely taken out of proportion and context..

                                        another statistic
                                        another asterisked footnote..

child rapist
           paedophile
                    childlover
                    and coming very soon..
                            minor attracted person MAP..

and before long we shall proudly wave blue spiral triangles
or a small heart surrounded by a large heart
or some such euphemistic symbol
and it will all be very respectable
another fascinating lifestyle choice
a gift rolled down from mysterious darkened lowly heights..

look here
you might do sudoku puzzles
while higher-up others may do other stuff
who are you to judge
we all need ways to unwind..

next
let us fight the so-called climate emergency(TM)
with cannibalism
we can call it sapiens cuisine
make it sound more pleasant and more respectable
and virtuous and clean
clean and green sapiens cuisine
that will teach runaway carbon dioxide a searing lesson..

eh darlin what dya fancy tonight
chinese or italian or french or indian..

nah
i want someink wiv a bit ov fat on em
get me a fat american deep-fried thighs with stuffed bat wings
and what abaht you darlin..

yaknowat
i crave another deep dead veggie indian
wiv fried russian knees over easy
an pappadums obviously
i am still on a diet
gotta keep the weight off ya see..

so gentle reader
do you find this direction of travel disturbing
or perhaps somewhat alarmist
far too dark and dystopian to ever be real
the subject for a fevered poem only sniff..

not to worry for either way
there is always the bigger picture at play
and it is always above our pay grade
trust in the plan as q cosplayers used to say..

the frog being boiled slowly in the pan
will always feel nice and snug and warm
the frog might even invite you to join and play with them
steam exfoliation is good for the skin after all..

i sign  privacy agreements
unlock and open wide my doors and windows
i have nothing to hide
you have nothing to hide
we remain comforted in the knowledge
that their privacy is protected from our prying eyes
thus we sway elegantly and in unison with the loving hive mind..

the trusted partners are mine
i happily go to bed with all of them
they trust me
my trusted partners and their partners trust me
they know i will not peek at them after they blindfold me..

so let me visit you tonight
blindfold yourself for me first
never look at me
spread yourself out on the sheets
yes i might carry a knife with me
but it will only be for my own protection
i might take pictures of you too..
but i promise not to share them with anyone
i am a gentleman..

i am a gentleman
and if i should do something to for you that you were not expecting
regard it as a nice surprise
a pleasant gift..

and i will gently remind you that you signed my privacy agreement
and you should have read the small print
you agreed to protect my privacy..

so for all your tomorrows
please keep your doors and windows wide open for me
so that i might visit you again and again
thanks in advance
my trusted partners also appreciate you
and they really enjoy all your private videos and pictures..

all of you 
are stored safely in our clouds for centuries unhackable
non-biodegradable
and for added security
please do not write down your unique password
your unique password is password..

As My Fact-Checked Marbled Eyes Marvel At The Jade Sky And The Sapphire Sun..

no
    i see no invisble chains
ensconced in my teevee chair 
benign is the absorbing glare i remain gorging on like a honey bear
i see no reason to look behind or around me
   enwrapped i blink in synchrony..

i am so self-aware as my mind phases and locks
with the baptising-ing-ing-ing-ing scrying neon black
mirror
         the sky throbs green as the sun blazes blue
               the bbc fact-checks keep me sure-footed
               in tune
         emblazoned i zing gently subdued
reflecting on the absolute truth
though
        with concern i ask
                 how about you..

my blood vessels thicken
squeezing the fizzing clotting sangria
time then for some more safe and effective treatment 
     i am a believer
for long ago i vanished into this screen
i love zelenski and his azov battalion goodnazis
   now
      how about you..

i love his azov battalion goodnazis
and so mesmerised by high street bookshop displays
and mainstream documentaries
i dutifully support all causes promoted by one-eyed celebrities
they know almost everything there is to know
     but more importantly they really care..

and i believe plane wings can melt like margarine through buildings
       with wings in tact like tomahawk missiles through steel and concrete 
           for i believe in magical physics and not alternative facts
i gain strength from good migraines
   i trust fake science..

i have no need for my stuttering spirit
there is no stripe for it
   safely fragmented
        i need never again self-identify with my spirit or my soul
or even my mind
             all metaphysical superstition all mumbo jumbo
and now it is time again for another safe and effective treatment
and no
         why should i care as to why big pharma has been indemnified
              i am a regular fries kind of guy..

my mainstream friends are my friends
i comprehend i comprehend..
materiality is all that should thrive
      and
            as i have already implied
                    the spirit and soul is not real
                    and should not be recognised 
                        neither are celebrated as identified life
my mind still does its thing once in a while..

and no
as i never do or think anything wrong
i need not hanker for pre-emptive privacy
human beings cause climate change
so some will need to be eliminated
well that is what it means to be informed
 oh do you see 
            no
               oh i see..

oh look is that the time
            time for some more safe and effective treatment again
yes i feel fine yes i feel fine
no
     i have no care for why pharma restaurateurs have been indemnified
         you have asked me that once already
              why not ask them if you are so exercised..

bad for growing organic food though it may be
for democracy let us drop some more depleted uranium
     cancer for freedom
         our government should use this for it is a pithy slogan
we must not anthropomorphise our enemies..

no
    we must not anthropomorphise our enemies
      that is both sentimental and dangerous 
      to crack an egg
         is to spit and roast a living thing
over there living things are only things
          and there are far too many of them
                  over there i mean..
.
as the strobed blinking rays lubricate
the wash bathes over me like draping warm static nylon
and i again gaze out the window
the sky throbs deeper green as the sun blazes deeper blue
another mainstream fact-check cues me
i listen i digest i assimilate
so certain about everything
that is why i am not an idiot
i comprehend i comprehend..
so
   i am compelled to ask again 
       how about you..

i gyrate and pulsate to the given rage
i am gently and tenderly compartmentalised and rearranged
i feel cleansed and caramelised with suitable loves and hates
i repeat debating points verbatim 
though not before i expend deep
               exhaustive focused critical thought
                            for entire zen seconds..

and even when they flip over preceding narratives now reposed
i remain disposed never caught on the ropes
never chastened
that is why i am not an idiot
i comprehend i comprehend..
notch me tender 
oh look
   now time again for the safe and effective treatment..
     how about you
no..
     ….i worry about you..

i wonder
    and i worry about what you think you see when you gaze out the window
do you see the turquoise sky neath the azure sun
      the perfect oblong clouds
           the scampering swans
my eyes have been mainstream fact-checked
my perceptions therefore cannot be wrong
     what about yours..

do you feel energised by the electromagnetic frequencies
blessing our towns and our cities
attracting and interacting smartly with our electrical being
do you sense your dormant pathways opening
    the tingling oh the tingling
do you also feel so precious and protected
perhaps you are not at my level yet
so plug yourself into the networks and you will get there
you will realise it is all for the best..

the jade sky the sapphire sun
i feel so at one marvelling with it all
though i see that you are too far gone..

you can keep your spirit and soul
     have fun..

God, Save Bored King Charles And Perhaps Save Yourself

a lip-reader claimed
king charles muttered this is boring
during the exciting and breathless build up to his coronation..

you see there was a very terrible unexpected short delay
so he had to endure an entire few minutes of wait
an. entire. few. minutes. of. wait.
while stationed outside the abbey
and all while trapped inside his diamond jubilee state coach
gazing out his window he observed oh-so-wearily 
this is boring..

so let it be written
trapped inside his unbearably lukewarm diamond jubilee state coach 
probably without air conditioning
he proclaimed
this is boring..

even while wearing silk gloves
the gold leaf filigree must have felt unforgivably tepid to the touch
imagine the embarrassment if even only one of his fingers caught finger-flu
think about how majesty magazine would have had to brush over all that..

so he languished there
inside his diamond jubilee state coach
for a few unearthly minutes
poor multi-trillionaire servant of the people king charles
is this the way to treat this top mason self-appointed defender of all faiths..

and how jangled would you feel if you had to handle such boredom
and all while trapped inside your diamond jubilee state coach
and for whole entire minutes
probably without air conditioning
or acces to netflix
or pornhub
or playful kittens on youtube
probably with no wi-fi inside
perhaps no airbags either
i would probably die of desperate ennui 
what about you..

so shame on us
shame on all of us
we must hang our heads low in shame
think of the empire
think also of the b-list celebrities
the selfless bee-list celebrities
who showed more patience than waxworks inside the abbey
all because of the unnecessary few minutes of delay
what would jesus say
not that he would be invited on that holiest of royal days..

dear bored king charles
please know
many of us felt your this is boring pain that day
but how we were all thrilled
thrilled and excited and enthralled and humbled and et cetera..
while watching the endless weeks of round-the-clock royalist propaganda news
in the run up to your corona-tion..

and on that marvellous day
how we patriotically waved our plastic made in china flags
while joyfully offering theological instruction to god
man woman child cat dog all
we all sobbed god save the king..

and dear god if you are listening to us now
for godsake god
save the king..

god
are you listening
save the king from everything
but especially from ever having to suffer unmitigated boredom again
for entire whole minutes
ideally fewer than two
really this is the least you could do
we really do not want to ever have to ask you again
so god save the king from everything
including but not limited to
being bored for an entire few unbroken minutes..

on the plus side
you do not need to ever save anyone else in creation from anything
anyone ever from anything
from mild death to serious boredom
so god please be reasonable
save the king
everyone else in the entire universe
you can throw in the karmic recycling bin
what a bargain
you see we are always reasonable
so god you should be too
now get on with it
you may thank us later
for god if you save the king
our king who is your king might save you..

Senseless Sensibility

i hate your writings
i hate your host
i hate your readers
i hate your photos
i hate your mind
i hate your kind
you have violated my very own personal community guidelines..

i randomly flag up your scribblings just for fun
i will spam your platform moderators until they finally succumb
i shall crater you invisible so justifiable are my concerns
you make my much fine-tuned mind boil and burn..

who on earth do you think you are
i am monitoring you covertly from near and afar
you have no idea what i can do to you
i have friends in high places unlike guess who..

i wish to slay your very so-so artistic muse
i dream of squirting your eyes shut with industrial glue
if that sounds a tad extreme you have pushed me to this
your sensibilities so vex me why are you attacking all my feelings..

so i have nothing more to share with you
except your views utterly disgust me through and through
and though i have stated this to you many times before
next week and next month and next year i shall missive you some more
for civilised liberal society needs saving from crazies like you
and please do not dare reply me
though being the selfish scumbag you are you never do..

oh
and by the way and before i sign off
please know that i am absolutely sure no-one reads your multi-talentless guff
you are seriously deluded if you think you will ever be recognised
wow my god how entitled you are
you seriously
seriously 
seriously
should get a life..