Not getting out

by Anthony Arnott

Barbed
            fire, cut the line, huddled
in the shade and gasping

for breeze. The cage lasts
forever. Scorch down onto forgotten

souls, even their dreams – breathless –

have abandoned them
            for hearts with a future.

I slept through an earthquake

by Anthony Arnott

Without   second look,     breezes
past, her scent locks on me     an
instant. Entering the

cafe, coffee. On the third
time of asking, I carve ‘conspicuous’
onto the paper.           pen’s fault,

half-listening to waitresses criticise
colleagues. Waiting to pay, I display
offender’s dream, healthy

tip.  Life’s in neutral       wind clutches
dust and thrusts it    my direction.

sun shines on       her seventh
month  and     man who wants to play
Father deems himself too vital. classic

      ruined by somebody
whose fantasy       to re-write
history.