RETURN TO CAPTIVITY

i
the chairs in
position, the magazines,
the iron bars that hem
out the stars;

THE BEASTS ARE SNORING
behind the metal rims

and i’m back in captivity
tonight.

ii
the hourly patrols;
the shadow scatter
of fear;

ONE OF THE BEASTS IS
SMOKING

and i’m back in captivity
with the folders and files,
the neurostatements wishing
to quicken the stamina
i have forgotten to have.

iii
back in captivity
tonight, the clocks still
remind me that i’m breathing;
and the cement feel of the concrete
assures me that i am not yet a slab
back in captivity here
tonight.

iv
THE BREATHING OF THE BEASTS
fills out the lightbeams
like a flower
there is nothing wrong
with the colour of the zinc

i like the smell of the fur
of my cold future

v
back in captivity tonight
i pray for the chaos of
the wilds that these wards
try to squash and which i
pray will never surrender
to dew entirely.

vi
in captivity tonight
i yawn

there are other things to
be thankful for

like the end of the
passing day.