Ashley Chantler

Remembrance of Things Past

Sleeping Dave:
Snug as a grub;
Free from fear;
His blood-swelled penis nudging the duvet.

Ash creeps out of the spare bedroom and dusts.
He erases Dead Dave and he grins,
Imagining Awake Dave will now always be happy.
He is warmed by what he calls ‘humanism’.

***

Ash is asleep on the bathroom floor.
Awake Dave nudges him with his right foot.

‘What have you been doing?’

Ash stands. ‘Dusting.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I love you.’

Ash smiles,
Sees the skin under Awake Dave’s eyes,
Shudders.