Alchemisland

Where I grew up it was Pop Tarts 

Scholastic Book Fairs, guitar rock 

And Chartbusters

Dad taped Alien on Channel Four 

Caught ten mins of Badly Dubbed Porn

What an aura that tape development 

There was this one Señora

Imploring the lifeguard to explore her, Dora

Cream shielded her limbs, thick as Flora 

On a dieter’s toast. I dreamt of Nostromo

Vents narrow as Olsen ankles 

Branching off at oblique angles 

Cameras hide in every corner, recorder angels the federal fauna

Yet haven’t caught a glimpse of the alien.

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We pretend to fawn over our phones, form a circle

One of us is lower, almost prone, direct under the beam of phone 

Light rolling up the Jones, a long bone to lock our jaws, send us down to Davey Jones locker 

Is the picture still in the locket when it’s closed

I’m in an old Dublin cafe, owner is off his rocker

He’s an old rocker, arms Johnny Eagle etched with portraits of beagle and people 

He knew, he had a medieval 

Face, friendly even 

Though he’d spent years dealing

With the public. A fan on the ceiling 

Pfffttthhthhhhhfffffftthhhhhhffftth as it’s wheeling

Panic because I’m anxious, overthink it

Feel the tenner I know I have in my pocket

Beside my Luas ticket 

Can I have the steak sandwich without the rocket? 

Would you like anything to drink? 

Say no without thinking even though I’d love a thing

Of coffee, nice latte to pep me up for the day, not quite an anxious tick 

But perhaps I lack assertiveness 

Or maybe like dad said I’m just a thick

Born a prick, die a prick

I was born in Holles Street

Like my brother and sister before me

I’m neither Biddy nor Daffodil, Biddy’s young girl 

My Dad owned a restaurant called the Earl 

On North Earl Street, where the portal 

Was before memes closed it, doirteal

Full of dirty dishes daily working with daddy

He was crabby but looking back I understand

Krabby papi makes crappy patties, he like me falls into patterns 

Never advantageous, he is easily taken 

We are the tarot Fools, innocent untaken

Road not taken every road for me, bacon 

Sandwiches sustain me, my hangovers pain me

Again daily. I’m paid daily cash in hand, don’t tell the taxman.