༺ bucket ༻

it’s pretty hard to see
out of this massive
copper helmet
the breathing
is laboured too
the water pressure
at this depth
is crushing

the folks out shopping
all around
seem to be doing fine

the lead boots
are very hard to lift
and the hangover
from the whisky
is blinding

but I’m wearing
flip flops
and didn’t drink
a drop

honest

somehow
while I slept
someone has sandpapered
all my bones
and the fluey ache
just won’t quit

when people say
“you’re looking well!”
oddly
it doesn’t cheer me up
then I remember
they can’t see nuffink

they seem fine
which means
I can’t see nuffink
either

and so it seems
we only really see
when we listen