THE GLOOMY PARK KEEPER

The gloomy park keeper
Prophesying in unshifting gaze
Upon youthful limbs entwined
Two lovers joy-rollicking
In skillful play,
�Just like dogs,�he�d say.

			An unsmiling Chaplin with
			Stiff authoritative hat to hide
			The blown away gaping gaps beneath.
			His flared, dark trousers trailing
			As he shuffles with walking stick
			Asleep in back-side pocket.

Big bunioned feet move lifelessly
In spit-shiny shoes as he poses upright
An over-respectable citizen Clown:
Red wine-cupped hands glowing as
He strikes matches, vampiring lip of
Swan-necked pipe, droning baggy cheeks

			Popeyeing till lit and he�s ready
			To begin patrolling around
			The railed perimeter,
			By the pond of screeching seagulls
			Stealing crumbs meant by children
			For the last few ducks.

He�s a protected species,
A straying polar bear from chilly Arctic
To sunny Kalahari growling out complaints
Sweating and swearing until he�s �bushed�
And gives up, sitting down smiling to eat
Roasted park duck for dinner.

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