He’s packing his bag with five T-shirts,
two pairs of trousers, a jumper, a flannel shirt,
five pairs of socks, five pairs of pants,
a few books he won’t read, some pens he’ll lose,
three pairs of emergency pants,
the aches in his back, concerns about big crowds,
the constant urge to open his stomach
and pack it with five T-shirts,
two pairs of trousers, a jumper, a flannel shirt,
five pairs of socks, five pairs of pants,
a few books he won’t read, some pens he’ll lose,
three pairs of emergency pants,
the aches in his back, concerns about big crowds.

© Carl Burkitt 2022