let him bleed

far below the light lies

a silent solemn man

counting all his memories

in tumble down repose

dying from a thousand self inflicted cuts and nicks

seeing yet not seeing

hearing without hearing

groping for oblivion and hoping it comes quick

bereft of love he may be though perchance he still has hope

but chance is fading rapidly and losing to the dope

and fixing on his tourniquet

he never used to need

he's writing and twisting

zero hope and sinking

veins beyond recall and eyes that cease to plead

how it hurts

and how it pains

to see a man so down and out

said the fine gentleman

and how i'd love to help him

i truly would indeed

but suppers waiting for me

so let him bleed. throwing out your well robed arms

to the boys down at the club

they gladly buy your ale and tales of sin

but better you had pity

on the junkie that you saw

than all your boozing and your whoring

your yachting and your skiing

and all the friendless friendships that you win

how it hurts

and how it pains

to see a man so down and out

said the fine gentleman

and how i'd love to help him

i truly would indeed

but suppers waiting for me

so let him bleed. closeted indifference and wall to wall scorn

and your blue ropes of office

while the true ones are never worn

living with no conscience

is to never breathe the air

all the shares you're not sharing

and the stocks for your stocking

i never new a dignitary with fewer social cares

so

keep on patronising oxfam

keep it all on show

the cheques still on the mantelpiece form two long years ago

i think that i could bear you

if you'd only admit

but you don't give a damn

your concern was all a sham. stuff your charity!