A Japanese Mid-Winter by Lauren Beziers

Golden bears dripping in honey

Paw Paw lick lick supper quick

Chainsaw massacre in the nursery

Dead doll carnage with the uplifted head

Staring into space just as they ever did

Just as they ever did.


Sitting in the concrete jungle

Eating the yoghurt that they said was good

Chunky fruit caught in throat choke

Projectile spitting at the lawyers

Marching in quick time steps

Staring like androids


In the poor house with the old mum

Worrying about little Jim

In bed with a cough and fever

Pale and weak and pathetic with limp hand raised

Not likely to spring in one mighty leap

With electric guitar and plectrum teeth


All these things, alien and cold

Snuffed with one firelighter and the coal,

Non smokeless, polluting warmth,

Enveloping the family in their box nest

Lying in a painterly display

In front of Tekeshi’s castle, enjoying a Japanese mid winter.