Two Poems
Phil Shils

velvet coat

the black men

and the girls

love my

velvet coat

my wife says

it's purple

but it's brown

the girls

 caress it

with a finger

when they

gesture

the brothers

point

purse their lips

and nod


dublin mussels

we waited and waited
for the mussels to open

but finally went across
the street to the pub
and drank and kissed

then went home
to the mussels
that were still
tight-lipped

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