On Leinster Road

Warm, languorous Summer’s afternoon;

chestnuts in full bloom,

students chatting on the steps,

sipping cans of beer.

A man-roar up ahead, then again;

my alarm beeps.

Now, I see him,

purple-faced, wild-eyed;

bawling at a girl on the other side.

Beep beep. Entering his range;

now intruding onto the outer ring

of his target.

White.
‘Harmless; just passing.’

Blue.

‘Passing passing passing.’

Red.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

He reads my fear,

his anger flares.

“Cunt.... fucking bastard....... shower of.......”

Furious summer sun

staring through a lens:

I catch fire.

Later, recovering an afternoon that was:

beautiful May, magnificence of early summer,      .

chesnuts in bloom,

students chatting on the steps;

I find charred remains

that keep flap flap flapping.