Poem: Dirty Uncle's Day Out

DING, DONG-
it's Dirty Uncle, looking for the Birthday Boy.

Smoke and sin swoop through the door,
stinking of boozy mischief.
Joy at Uncle’s store-bought cake
and pack of pink party candles.

DRINKS to wash down our cakes?
The lock on the liquor cabinet breaks…
A smack on the back, a splash of gin,
the celebration is forced to begin.

Box of candles waiting sweetly cake-side.
Hello.
Happy Birthday Baby.

Uncle sets seven alight.
Dirty Uncle and candles in cahoots.
The candles suck up oxygen, while Unka Rogah
sucks down Tanqueray.

Fiery birth meets fiery breath.
Uncle wants to drink,
the waxlets wish to burn,
to flicker and lick life from the air.

Mom comes home, no fun. No fair.
She blows the fire from the dancing wicks,
steals the liquor from the old man’s lips.

The boy is left alone in the dark,
with smoke and sweet victory frosting.

Sprawled out on the neighbour’s lawn,
Dirty Uncle slurs through the birthday song.

The boy closes his eyes and wishes
for what he hopes will come true.