I am in a gym changing room
on a television sitcom
as six men, one after the other,
join in for a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s
“Isn’t She Lovely”. Their willies are out.
Bums are being dried with towels,
moisturiser is being rubbed
into stubbled jaws. A seventh man joins in
and it is not me. I am putting my shoes on.
Sara Cox returns to the radio
and I’m hoping the next feature is about confidence.

Carl Burkitt 2024