Serious

The serious man
with the serious face
opens the door
of 1 Serious Place. Feels the sunshine
on his serious face,
scowls til the clouds
come back into place. With serious stripes
on his serious suit,
he’s serious from
sideparting to boot. Perhaps he’s a lawyer
or a judge with a gavel?
If I untied his bootlace
perhaps he’d unravel, bits of him tinkling
around at his feet
as the parts marked ‘no fun’
breakdance on the street. Unshackled from neatness,
rescued from order,
a man of sudden undress
he breaks down, confesses
to the lollipop lady
how much he has adored her. Now playing tig
with the kids
in Serious Place.
“You’re it!” they shout.
“I do believe I am”
comes back
from a creased and beaming face Harry Gallagher