Neighbourly Potholes

There’s an old man
who lives a floor below
he stole the body
of a twenty-something year old
and has grown a moustache
live a spiv
right on the face

He sleeps all day
and has a head full of chemistry
- not drugs
no, not this one
studies for a PHD in chemical business
sleeps all day though
and occasionally fucks this square lump
that has arms like a mechanic
and grumbles terribly
in some tribal accent
calls herself
“I’ve got to get up at 4 in the morning”
or something
at least
that’s all I heard
when I once introduced myself

One time they came to my door
both of them
to ask about the music
to tell me
what they were wondering
“we were wondering if...”
I was drunk
on success
and wondered myself
if they wanted to borrow ‘The Basement Tapes’
I’d had a good night at the races
I was up and celebrating
with a cold shower
of alcohol
but they didn’t give a shit
I could tell
spiv moustache was twitching
grumbling arm square was sweating
shifting on the spot
telling me
she “had to get up...”
yes yes I know
“... at 4 in the morning”
but
it was a Friday tomorrow
and it probably had a number attached to it as well
or some shit
and there’ll be love somewhere
and some pain too
and somewhere
someone
will be stepping in potholes
either accidentally
or on purpose