POPE

when the pope died,
he looked small
after they dressed him up
and powdered his
wrinkles.

dead: he looked baggy
and stern,
and I felt bad for the pope,
though I’m not catholic;
he seemed like a right
old guy.

so I opened a tin
of mackerel,
was it friday?
I think it was friday.

when they buried
that old guy—

—he nosed across
the ‘hold like a dreadnaught,
bristling with papal turrets,
crimson wake.

I didn’t cross myself or anything—
I’m not catholic—still,
he seemed
like a right old guy.