The All-Smiling Man

I am the all-smiling man

I am smiling for you, the trees
You are losing your leaves
and withered winter branches
I am smiling for the last leaf

I am smiling for you, the clouds
covering the blue sky like similes
or with slate grey metaphors
I am smiling for the last cloud
as it wisps beneath the departing moon

I am smiling for you, the stars
the final stars of a false dawn
And for the morning star

 And I am smiling for you, the new sun
I am the all-smiling man

Arrival

I can’t remember arriving

At Coventry station

Or how I found my way to the pub

I found a place to stay

From a card in the newsagent’s window

Left my suitcase and guitar

In the large, shabby room

Full of cold space

I can’t remember what was in the suitcase

Or what I wore

Headed for the college

I do remember thinking

That the art students

Would have claimed a pub for their own

And would now be in out

Renewing acquaintances

Swapping stories of summer conquests

And finding the pub

I do remember

Talking to the new second years

Exotic, long-haired

Bright colourfully-clothed

About the college

What I could expect

Drugs

The noise. The music was loud

All Along the Watchtower by Jimmy Hendrix

Was that then or later

It featured heavily that year I’m sure

But some things seem so vague now

I don’t remember how the evening ended

I don’t remember returning to my room

Or how I slept

Or if I dreamt

I know I only slept there once

In the morning I lifted the mattress

And watched the bedbugs

Scurrying from the light