Don't Bother Going Home

don't bother going home there's a
leopard living on your lounge, once a pussy-cat,
a meek little purrer

don't bother going home there are
spots on the carpet so deep, too deep for you
the type you'd fall through, or even catch

dont bother going home there's a
trampoline in the bed
bound thrown you out,
way out! get out!
you could very well
land on a needle in a haystack...
... incidentally, that is all that's left of your garden -
aside from a few weeds & funghi tops -
but don't bother looking under those,
no fairies under there, no fairies anywhere
the dream dried up in the heat of it all

don't bother looking in, there are bars on her eyes
the blinds are down too
& dont bother talking - there's nothing left to say -
the text is smudged all over the walls
your photos are bleeding nostalgic monotony,
their colours seeping through all

your framed insect collection has come alive
nothing but the sound of pinned wails
pinned wails & twitching leopard tails -
crawling their way through corridors -
echo sirens warning - don't go there

don't bother going home
there are dropbears climbing the walls
& not too happy ones, at that!

if you go home, stay on your guard
that soldier's come back from the war -he's limbless &blind
but he's still a crack-shot
go well-armed, a torch might help
no, don't bother - come to think of it
your hose has been hacked
it's no wonder the terrapins died
& the rose

furthermore, the oxygen has been cut off
pay the bill! though it's too late really
now that love has been sucked down
the plug-hole - the noise of which
awoke the neighbours so you're
evicted anyhow

just don't bother