“THE STAMP COLLECTOR” 28 July 1996

Here,
my collection of broken hearts
filed in books, frozen, dated, formaldehyde
I collect agony and heartbreak,
a harbour of souls

This is a good one: I took her virginity in 1958
A prize exhibit: I took him in my trust in 1971
stubbed cigarettes out on her arm in 1965,
glassed his brother : 1964, abused their son ; 1977,
raped her ; 1973, just beat her up a little ; 1974
raped her ; 1975, 76, 77, murdered their daughter ; 1982
a home wrecker in ‘79, the winter of our discontent.

I collect heartbreak, catalog misery
keep it and watch its effects, after all,
this is a world full of bastards.

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