Monday, 3 August 2026

gas masks and buttons

 gas masks and buttons


just past the foundry

when the flames were out

we ventured around the locked

always locked building

that challenged entry 

won with guile


dark

light-slatted dusty and cobwebbed

here look at this

serge uniforms navy blue 

buttons a silver ransom

cut with a knife and borne away

to be strung on string 

our mayor’s chains


here look at this

in a deeper sanctum 

gas masks

canister spouts

others with pipes to canisters

slung low

and the farting valves

that took laughter to its toxic limits


we left

professor quartermas was coming

trembling was coming

we ran before the bobby saw us


i still steal looks over my shoulder

for the undead in their gas masks

dragging their chains

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