Abart Tarn

by Rachel J. Fenton

Tarn is thi umbilicus; to sever thisen from it is to sever thisen.

Tarn is t' choose no shoes rather than wear ones in thi bag

bought from a sun faded box on t' street for pence, damaged on t' tag.

Tarn is t' coyt tha wears for free until it dun't fit and then for sixty

pence per week for t' next year.

Tarn is t' bead er sweat that pricks thi skin when some bleeder bends

thi ear an asks, who a' thee?

Tarn is t' kid who waits till thar in skooel to seh ah saw thee

in Pahndstretchers and everyone's too busy laughing to whuk art,

if they saw thee, they were theer anall.

Tarn is three hours in t' bargain stooer to choose which presents

tha wants t' buy thi family for Christmas, return em t' shelves

and looercate one tha can affooerd, an all t' while be follered by a guard,

who’d be better occupied wetching his weight not thee on closed circuit tv.

Tarn is to visit thi aunt in London, go t' jewellery stooer and suffer

er umiliation, when t' shutters come darn, explaining thar wi er.

Tarn is a whisper that began as a draught under t' door, condensed

on t' winder an soaked through towel in t' wood er thy frame,

blackening, so that regardless er ar much white paint thy applies, spooers

allas show through; thar dirty face.

Tarn'll blow thi ouse darn and ne matter ar much thy explains,

what choices tha mecks, who thy ignores, what clooes tha wears, ar fast

tha runs in bare feeut, tha cannot outrun thisen; tha pooer inside and art;

thy will be undone.

Tarn is t' look upon my face; “am sorry, ah dun't know thee”.