this sweet flame around by Stephen Maughan

Browsing penny postcard shops offering cheap salvation

in hypnotic and decayed heat

but your bicycle eyes keep me cool, spinning

answers while  this Arizona skyline melts my fears

and digs into my heart

pantomime lizards sing and howl

as I’m pushed out of line at the horizontal bar

talking of eternal dreams gone sour

we don’t connect in a city drowned in

confusion and the black tears of youth

withstanding reason gets harder

when you’re gone and my sleep is hollow

and time eclipses your perfect moonlit smile

until the colours have all turned grey

before the sea breeze calls my name once more

7 July 2015