Worked as efficient and dependable
as freshly oiled clock wheels
and happened every afternoon
as regular as the work
these wheels tick-tocked for.
Coming devastatingly on time
and following a similar structure
and pattern as cardiac arrests.
A small one around 3pm
followed by a bigger
more sadistic (Teeth pulling!) one,
on or around 5:15pm.
At which point he downed tools
immediately, shut up shop
and retreated quickly
to the underground bunker.
Fixing in place noise cancelling
earphones upon his poor
short circuiting head
and a blackout mask
over tired, strained eyes.
Then he would sit in a rocking chair,
imagining the gentle sounds
of a midnight, deserted seashore.
Whilst sucking but never chewing
exactly one and a half bags of wine gums,
each individual colour at a time.
And smoking Rose Petal & Brandy
rolling tobacco until the storm
within his cranium teacup
had eased its way right on out of view.
More at http://paultristram.blogspot.co.uk/.