Ghost of the Ace Face

by Andrew Taylor

“Bring me back a pebble” “I will though
I have only seen sand so far” and a burnt
down pier

sky blue ‘Brighton Rock’ breath streams
matches exhaust along the front

the world seems flat and over there
somewhere you take your time to sleep

If I crane my neck I can see the sea
from my window

room lights and other people’s lives
illuminate the courtyard and filter
through the net curtains

as slowly the codeine washes over me
like the coldness from the sea