A close is a close is a close by Kevin Reid

after Gertrude Stein

tenement block.
tenement block.
tenement block.
tenement block.
tenement block.
tenement block.
them men in the block
them men in the block.
block.
block.
block
bloke.
you.
you only.
you only ten.
you only ten.
what a shame.
what a shame
what a shame hen.
what a poor shame hen.
blame him blame him blame him blame him.
him.
him.
him.
egg.
egg.
egg.
egg on.
egg on.
egg on his chin.
what a pair.
what a pair.
what a pair pair.
place.
place of.
place of nuts nuts.
old place.
what a place what a place what a place to be.
old face.
what a face what a face what a face is he.
come on come on come on come.
more more more more more.
more close.
more close.
too close.
too close.
too close.
but.
but.
but.
but.
but.
but.
close is a close is a close is a close.
a blow is undelighted.

 

close (n): The entry to a tenement house, the open passage-way giving access to the common stairs and the floors above.

 

Kevin Reid lives between Scotland and other lands. His work can be read in various journals such as, Ink Sweat and Tears, The Interpreter’s House, Under The Radar, Seagate III, Scotia Extremis, Domestic Cherry, And Other Poems. A mini pamphlet, Burdlife (Tapsalteerie), was published in 2017.  He’s the editor of Nutshells and Nuggets, a blogzine for short poems.