here we are, we are no more
deserving than you are
of a bed behind the cows
or china on the walls

peel it off
something isn’t right
tremble at the sight
of a crowd in the yard late at night

a ball of ice divides the house
with fires around the couch
bodies ache and lay awake
no matter what they take

cough it up
rattle round the sink
bubbles in the drink flatten up
has your wife had enough?

we came here from Sweden
in search of a job
we know it will be hard
wherever we are

as you may, we may, remain
impossible to shame
you, because you’ve seen it all
and me, because I can…

look away
any given way
who would want to stay
catching hell to pay?

on the log, they need a dog
to serve and to protect
they could offer me the boots
but why would I accept?

I expect
more than I have seen
floating on a screen
to appear, doubting eyes
to appear, as a prize,
to appear

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