There's a mobile icecream vendor whose van travels along the local streets where I live playing the same few bars from the theme tune from 'The Magnificent Seven' over and over again.

It's so bloody inappropriate hearing this powerful and atmospheric piece of music played under these circumstances. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

THE COWARD

It wasn't quite raining
As the night trapped my thoughts
Into tiny, watertight emotions
That coagulated as sweat
Around my neck, noose-like
Lisping down my back.

I could have done it yesterday,
I should have, but didn't
Not knowing why the task
Was beyond my capabilities.

And I, forever trapped the coward
Herd all bravery towards the beautiful
Who only parade about my dreams
Out in some discontented foray
That masquerades as passion's calling.

And should I dare to tell her?
...Oh no, not tonight; my love.

I've recently received some bad news about the death of an acquaintance; burnt to death in his static caravan. He was only thirty five years old.

I could go on about how poverty has caused this to happen, compelling him to live on the fringes of society, but I won't because he chose this alternative lifestyle for himself, knowing all the risks.

HITCH-HIKER

When the moor
Hit his eyes
He put on his
Sunglasses
And turned down
The volume.

LUNACY

On the far side
Of the Moon,
A mousetrap
With mouldy cheese.