LONG LISTED FOR THE 2023 GRIFFIN POETRY AWARDS
Partition
In time I finally stopped keeping notes guessing that
the value of a masterpiece must be elsewhere, while
the stupid doctor insisted “you’ll enjoy some change”
as if fame couldn’t pass by our street; yet the train
whistles at night took me to a voyage all over the room
and then the ticket inspector came and asked me about
my ticket, “which ticket asshole, I’m the one with one
testicle” and I of course meant that they threw me out
along with all the other good heroes of the novel; I
therefore thought of going to say goodbye to my uncles
because who can tell me that I’m truly who I am (and
I’m surprised that no one admired such a version) or
I’m the one who placed a small napkin on my lap
although I never ate anything but that spot on the door;
when finally as you might have guessed it was
a melancholic October and I entered the first
second hand store and I bought a partition.
Thus my warmth and good manners remained
exemplary.
Manolis 