PORTER, Peter

Print Out: Apocalypse

When the army of ecologists

has scraped the last shellfish

from the lagoon,

When all the cars on

the urban overpasses are towed

to adventure playgrounds,

When the phrase 'fossil fuel'

is considered too holy to be used

in crossword puzzles,

When Thirties hats and hairdos

have comeback into fashion

for the tenth time,

When archivists have stored

reserve prints of every manifestation

of popular culture,

When software and hardware

have swapped places in our

advanced computers,

When these words are fed in

for me to consider, I will come again,

says the Lord…

Your Attention Please

Your Attention Please

The Polar DEW has just warned that

A nuclear rocket strike of

At least one thousand megatons

Has been launched by the enemy

Directly at our major cities.

This announcement will take

Two and a quarter minutes to make,

You therefore have a further

Eight and a quarter minutes

To comply with the shelter

Requirements published in the Civil

Defence Code - section Atomic Attack.

A specially shortened Mass

Will be broadcast at the end

Of this announcement -

Protestant and Jewish services

Will begin simultaneously -

Select your wavelength immediately

According to instructions

In the Defence Code. Do not

Take well-loved pets (including birds)

Into your shelter - they will consume

Fresh air. Leave the old and bed-

ridden, you can do nothing for them.

Remember to press the sealing

…..



Metamorphosis

This new Daks suit, greeny-brown,

Oyster-coloured buttons, single vent, tapered

Trousers, no waistcoat, hairy tweed – my own:

A suit to show responsibility, to show

Return to life – easily got for two pounds down

Paid off in six months – the first stage in the change.

I am only the image I can force upon the town.

The town will have me: I stalk in glass,

A thin reflection in the windows, best

In jewellers’ velvet backgrounds – I don’t pass,

I stop, elect to look at wedding rings –

My figure filled with clothes, my putty mask,

A face fragrant with arrogance, stuffed

With recognition – I am myself at last.

…..