The Downside of the Upside
It’s like that dachshund online
having the best week ever
with everyone home from work
until its tail went into overdrive.
Rolo is currently on pain relief.
It might take a week. Apparently
there’s some movement from side to side
but he’s struggling to lift it in the air.
Which reminds me of my father
carrying on with his rusty jack,
trying to raise the Mitsubishi
up to inspect the chassis.
Chassis. Which makes me think
of Chas & Dave, the opening verse
of their song ‘Rabbit’ used in ads
for Courage Bitter and beginning
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit,
rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit
(rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit).
My father got us a rabbit. White.
Bugsy, after the only bunny we knew.
It was a Sunday. We let it out the hutch
so it could enjoy the grass.
The dog could work the back door
and chased it round the garden.
I can see it, not hopping but swerving,
the tail wagging. Heart attack.
Paul Stephenson has published three pamphlets: Those People (Smith/Doorstop, 2015), The Days that Followed Paris (HappenStance, 2016) and Selfie with Waterlilies (Paper Swans Press, 2017). He co-edited Magma (issue 70 ‘Europe’) and co-curates Poetry in Aldeburgh. He interviews poets at paulstep.com. Twitter: stephenson_pj / instagram: paulstep456
