Clay Bacon

ali shaw

-Clay Bacon-

Lying in my bed
I was like clay bacon:
layers of heavy and overfed flab,
tired as a pregnant sow.
Legs right-angled, all my weight was
flat on my flank. I was
thinking, I really should set an alarm
for my early start.

Great willpower
let me snort and shrug
across the floor, squashing ON with my fist, dramatically.
I settled down,
the soggy smells of unwashed sheets, and noise outside,
barking, baaing, meant
I couldn't lick a grub of sleep, just sunk into my bed,
my trough of hot sweat.

***

I am the pig.
They are the dogs and sheep.