Ghosts

Striplights fail to ward off encroaching poisons
violence blown in from an ancient phonecall
imperial commands over tannoys
exhorting totalitys postures
merge borg-like merge cube-like
exist not in a periphery of your own!

Here you avoid the Death Stars exhaust
walk other paths, the asteroid belt
the outlands, the frontier, the mark
I tempt with warmth welcome tenderness
memorising each long lovely line
crossing your forehead

smugglers thrill, talent in the hold
the revenue-mans a wait'n and his troops are fresh and armed
but the coast is long dark complex, nights cloudy
slow soundings up the creek, discharge by the old deserted church
a reading by candle-light to those resistant
to the Death Stars slipstream.
Hush, listen. The brandy's being unpacked!