Decomposition

Decomposition

Wet and tame, from an unfathomable journey

drenched to the marrow, a failure’s song

seats being taken, fast friends watching by

consuming junk a survival pact, forthwith

closing the drawer on negative history.

Haggling through fairy tales, a prouder fancy

kissed in full view, slammed into order,

not respected afterwards, by any party

wandering through the river, declarative

cigarette in one hand, rolled unwisely.

Living to regret, a good size girl you are now

more than an apology needed to up the ante

poisoning gatherings, when we need to celebrate

any excuse for an event marred by you

attention sought and delivered, grudgingly.

Making use of telephones in slight chagrin,

brilliant mistakes prolong a certain agony

preserving social occasions for these loves only

lingering pain never crosses this mind,

sympathetic crossings teach little and often.

Drinking the poisoned water, immersed for same

whole decadence in a little crowded room

devoid of conversation, needing the quips

necessary to live nicely, hating the same

attractive phobias hiding behind propriety.

Patricia Walsh

Patricia Walsh was born and raised in the parish of Mourneabbey, Co Cork.  Her first collection of poetry titled Continuity Errors was published in 2010, and a novel titled the Quest for Lost Éire, in 2014.  Her poetry has been published in Southword; see Narrator International; Third Point Press, Revival Journal; Seventh Quarry; Hesterglock Press; The Quarryman; Unlikely Stories; and Otherwise Engaged.  A further collection of poetry, titled Outstanding Balance, is scheduled for publication in August of 2020. She was the featured poet in the inaugural edition of Fishbowl Magazine and is a regular attendee at the O Bheal poetry night in Cork city.