Bananas

Hung above my bed swings Charlotte’s twin
careful, black teardrop caught big-backed
poised and deadly on her rope

From the kitchen I stared, uncertain
scared - it’s morning, three o’ clock
fridge wide open, juice in hand

Glutinous, almost pregnant, yet
she coils her thread on silk on silk
quickly to the beam and roof

Wide eyed; “Oh where have you been my love?”
There’s something compelling, insane
where I stand like a Spartan

at some dinner party, making a speech
addressing present company
balanced, glass and book outstretched

A heart-tick lost and put in place
I sealed her in with cellophane
two layers then sat shaking

Gingerly, I took the prison up
placed it on my desk then knelt down
admiring her through glass walls

Her markings are strange but not ugly
like war paint on supermodels
their clothes knitted with IVs

Her beauty’s surpassed only by speed
she’s never been one for talking
- free meal, no glove: Terminal

Moving away for needed coffee
I spied my shopping from last night
Spa bags on the bedroom floor

Blue box eggs, Heinz tinned soup, packet rice
milk, muesli, canned beans, bananas
from sunny Costa Rica

FRUIT (still bagged) IN THE SINK, TRAINERS ON
Wrap the glass in one more layer
then look around for egg sacs

J. x