Graham Clifford

The judge’s house

In the judge’s house is a wall of photographs: a mountain; him with an elephant; him not at a family gathering.

On the bedside table are magazines which he uses to lie to me about his interests, and a container of expensive condoms. I’m aware of the game.

Later, I read the decrepit streets and a song from my childhood is freed and the whole world deflates a little, as if squeezed by a windy god.

Graham Clifford lives in London. His most recent collection is Well, (Against the Grain, 2019). His poems have appeared in Magma, The Rialto and the Forward Book of Poetry 2015. Graham's fifth collection of poetry is forthcoming from the Black Light Engine Room.  https://grahamcliffordpoetry.com/