Image
The Final Year book cover
POEMS
Created: 7th May, 2024

Mr Joshua

Mr Joshua

waits by the door to greet us.

I can hear him sayin, Hi, to the kids

at the front.

 

Sit where you want for this morning

but make a sensible choice.

 

I’m

dead

last.

 

Hi, he says,

I’m Mr Joshua.

Welcome.

 

Tall     I’m guessin the same sort of age as Mum

but looks way younger

designer glasses     footballer’s skin fade

neat beard

big smile     circles his thumbs as he talks.

 

I do my best impression of a smile

 

 

slide past him

 

slump in a seat     and the smoke is risin

breathe          Nate          breathe

 

and I can feel the heat and the darkness and

The Beast withdraw     return to the deep

 

and Mr Joshua’s watchin me.

 

You OK fella?

Need a minute somewhere to chill?

 

I swallow it down.

 

No     thanks     I’m fine.

 

© Matt Goodfellow from The Final Year (Otter-Barry Books)

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'Mr Joshua' by Matt Goodfellow

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