VULCAN

Hot street stones
shoving the Sextilis fire
back into my body

Gods, it’s too much
Dipping water
from the cooling bucket

My head feels like
steel
right from the anvil

But I didn’t think
the damn street imps, watching
would be so bold

When, tired of patching pots
I lay back
for some winks in the shade

and they crept in
to leg it
with my best hammer

Little fiends
Hell-pack
Probably thought

they could use it
to bash in Subura
tenement locks

Or maybe
take it to tata’s head
if he tried to get too tough

Ah, cacat
and they’d have foxed me
if a dog hadn’t barked

My eye, sweat stinging
opened enough
just in time

Brick-running
bootless, not worried
about an ironmonger’s speed

But rumble up
Listen to ‘em howl
because I’m coming

Vulcan
Don’t cross Vulcan, boys
My hammer, your asses

Felt good right out
downhill all the way
steaming, on anger

Pissants
Three of them
A little fear, over their shoulders

Six-legged horse
But I
was on a chariot

Till
I remembered
the sun

My lungs
flung into the furnace
Legs, next

Bricks, damn bricks
in Sextilis heat
Hot brass claws, dragging

Ah, shit
It isn’t fear
They’re laughing

Hitting the corner
gasping too much
to shout

Out of sight
Try the alley
Out of sight

And I put
my back against a wall
and sank down

Vulcan, sure
Hot brass eye
beating down

It all
swam around me
Stinking alley

Stinking city
Poor shade
Nothing but stone, here

Then I saw
she was looking down at me
from an alley window

Minerva, nude in sweat
What did she care?
It was hot

If I stare
a husband
will probably come down

Beat my ass
That wouldn’t be right
after a righteous run

She didn’t care
Raised a finger
Pointed, down the alley

But the chase
was up
Hammered

Home
I need
some warm, stale water


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