It gets deposited & left
to work [a brief code] –
a now-common rub in
our shift-of-rules lives –
I am learning them all –
easy distortions that’ll
fix into convention – as
time runs its cut I write
my daily dull turns – in
my hand my verb-book
of verse [transmitted &
left difficult on-line] – a
word-burst ‘mongst my
hours now – my signals
sure to fade [cipher-fed
airwaves will fall away] –
I knew a listener – he sat
over his ale – Russian his
second language – used
abroad now – he retired
from a listening game &
knew more than others –
a career in-between his
friends & cold enemies –
he had enough of both –
& I will finish with mine
over a slow pint [& time
at my heel] – code done