294. stand up
I know the word’s in my mouth
rolling around in there
carousing
with the others
but they’re not coming out
any of them
they know which side
their bread’s buttered
& why should they
risk it all
for what ?
to end up in a mumbled order
down the chip-shop
or squandered
in a moment of road rage ?
forget it – they’ll wait til
they can make a proper meal of it
– an epitaph or an oratory
or star in a one-line put-down to some
fucking heckler at
the stand-up tonight.