Be wary of me

Be wary of me

There is more to know

Than a first line

Which is nothing

More than a fly trap

Pretty words all lined up

In a row

Sitting in a bathroom,

Written under the bedclothes

By the light of an old

Bicycle lamp

A taste of whisky

On the lips

Just a few more sips

Will take me to heaven

Which probably only exists

In the space between

Here and there

Nothing is real

But the pretence

We are all something different

Cells may die

We are never the same person

Crossing the same river

Twice

Even when we are

Philosophy is designed

To confuse the issue

Feeding, as it does

A very human need

To be ruled

By something greater than

An idea we have

Of ourselves

Feel free to disagree

It is expected

When the verse

Runs out of steam

Rarely produced

In a love poem

Disappointment

Is such a familiar feeling

More easily recognised

In the words of others

Satisfaction

Is never guaranteed

Existence is a place

On earth

We once called home

Reserved for warm memories

Without them

Everything we read

Will be computer-generated

Not such a bad thing

In a world of soundbites

Fake news

And manspeak

Be wary of me

All truth sayers lie

I have not lit a fire

In a very long time

But I can still fan a flame

In the heart

Of an old romantic.