Peter Sirr

1960 / Waterford

PPS

Welcome 3755547K
your small head rests
in the arms of the State
your fingers are counted, your toes
registered, your cries
have found their way
to a vault of need, you're
known, allowed for, admitted
though mysterious to us
and as yet unpersuaded
you drift and sway
and kick against the world
but listen
your breath moves in a far drawer
a number among numbers
you shift in your folder
you open your eyes
you fall through the letterbox
and climb the stairs
you float towards your basket
and gently surrender
ah 3755547K
recognised, acknowledged, filed,
let the complex systems
convince, sleep on the miracle
of your name spilling across the screen,
the long arms of the sun reaching in.
143 Total read