about prison systems

 

last night, I went to a friend’s birthday party

amidst the vanishing drinks and conspicuous laughter
between the entwined fingers in the dark and the slow crawl
of quiet desperation, like a timid schoolboy on the first day
 
i saw the invisible guest, the familiar old ghost in baggy clothes
and, an ill-fitting bespoke hat

from an era no-one remembers

we stop-started our attempts
to ignore each other, until

someone uttered his name

loneliness limped out
to the other room

into

the discoloured wall with
peeled distemper and
trapped moisture that
never really leaves

i am told all the dead dreams
and residual reminiscences
dwell there

at the end of the day,
all of us castaways
must find our ways
back into

our prisons

needless to say
you’re terribly
missed

.