another little piece of my heart

another little piece of my heart
 
the night porter ignored the girl
creeping with me from the cheap hotel –
he’s seen it all before
 
her cheeks are streaked with run mascara
she’s wearing golden lame pants
bandeau boob tube, crotchless knickers,
and shivering against the cold –
 
I’m dressed right for early strolls
 
“John, you ripped my tights – keep them – they’re yours – no extra”
 
my name’s not John
 
a squall from nowhere
rips my umbrella away
it cartwheels prong-over-prong
across littered sand to open sea
 
I hand the girl a cigarette
she lights it, draws deep,
coughs to clear her throat
spits and walks away –
 
she knows an all-night café
 
her tattooed thighs are chapped
grapefruit dimpled, purple veined
 
that precious hennaed ‘Brazilian’
I buried my head in
dreading I might suffocate
is now a sour memory
 
I call after the golden pants –
(I don’t know her name)
‘thanks for… you know… do it again?’
she waves – a single finger stabs the sky
 
I fill my lungs with Camel smoke
seafront air, and my mind
with vague regrets
contemplating
out of season Morecambe,
(the ‘Naples of the North’)
and last night’s trick
with a low-rent tramp
 
before my eyes
a lifetime loop
of lovers, girlfriends,
one-night standers –
untouched by age and infirmity
(still luscious and flourishing)
triumphantly waving
a piece of my heart
plays and replays,
mocking me
 
I wish they would go away.

© coolhermit 2023
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critique and comments welcome.
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Guaj

So much sadness and regret woven into this sordid colourless liaison.
Very clever as always, Rick
Pity it didn’t get on the front page. It might be missed by some readers

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