Jealousy
I realize
you can't get round it.
now I've been doing without again.

Jealousy
the machine of love has gone off the rails
is grinding and juddering on its foundations
self-destructing
a Tinguely.

How well I remember those days
and nights I spent
in the doorway opposite
not giving up till I got what I wanted
my fellow lover arrived and rang
and her window slid open.

I saw the hand I knew so well
the arm I'd bitten into so often
her key sailed down
and he my brother and murderer
fielded it with ease.

What happened inside
I could see it before me
how she her lips
how she her body
how she the same cries
oh! bitter triumph of the imagination.

Later
I'm love's cold inspector
the searching interrogation
till finally the sobbing confession
is elicited and peace restored.

Like the furious felling of a tree
like the monomaniac heaving furniture around that's too heavy
and will never again find its proper place
and the body under me
keeping still and waiting
till it was all over.

And now without jealousy
everything's neutral a nothing smile
a cup of afternoon tea
with a biscuit and a friendly chat.

Night without moon
Berlin without wall
Java without volcano
time without hours.