emptying my pockets of crumpled dead papers which sit on the dresser in a lined-up row, rose-white. my wallet a bassdrum and my keys a sharp jingle, this treble of pennies, divesting my goods. the
emptying my pockets
of crumpled
dead papers
which sit
on the dresser
in a lined-up row,
rose-white.
my wallet
a bassdrum
and my keys
a sharp jingle,
this treble
of pennies,
divesting
my goods.
the bed squeezes
beneath me
with the rattle of a half-
tuned accordion. night-time
all noises, all peace
and all normal.
you roll over,
sleepless and sleepy,
knowing by now
how my symphony goes.
DS Maolalai
DS Maolalai has been nominated six times for Best of the Net and three times for the Pushcart Prize. His poetry has been released in two collections, “Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden” (Encircle Press, 2016) and “Sad Havoc Among the Birds” (Turas Press, 2019)