Matthew Sweeney

1952 / Lifford

Naked

Take off your shoes, he said,
and hurl them into the sea.
Take off that satin shirt
and hand it to me,
and it had better fit, he said,
or you're fucking dead.
Take off those grey cords
and hope you're my size.
Take off the underpants
and pull them over your eyes,
and blind, take off each sock
while waggling your cock,
ignoring the laughs I gift you
in this ghastly hour -
for you, that is, he said
before laughing some more
and slapping me on the rump
commanding me to jump,
Higher! Higher! he shouted
and I heard a gun click
as sweat bubbled out of me
and I began to get sick.
Stop that or I fucking shoot!
You disgusting brute!
He kicked me in the balls
till I doubled up.
Stand up straight! he roared.
You contemptuous pup!
And he hit me on the head
with the gun till I bled.
More mess! he bellowed.
You're worse than a pig.
Then he handed me a spade
and ordered me to dig.
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