Summer Holiday
Belgrade is a // ‘kaleidoscopic cityscape’ // it is also // burning, it is // burning // and I only just understood what that meant // Stay indoors // don’t eat sushi // there are tanks on the street // The whole point is to immerse yourself // take a seat // wear a mask // our passport used to be one of the best // Croatia despises // him // don’t you think it’s best to come home // we have barely even started // when we went to the police station I saw God // he was smoking against a wall // his hands were full of blood // there were raves in our building // it was smooth jazz // on Mondays we bought tiny cakes // we were tired // so tired // and I // thought it would be different this time // politics is kneeling on our throats again // we couldn’t take the tram // the virus has taken all the seats // I’m sick and hungover // my teeth taste like being kicked // I’m not coming home // I’m staying out with new friends // I know what I said // but this // it’s important somehow // more than ever before // shoes have been left in the streets // bloody // their owners have disappeared // who collects the dogs that have been let loose // for some time I have been sleeping // but I am awake // where are the rooftop parties // where are the Pomeranians // the hooligans have been instructed to kill us with our own tears // don’t throw words down a well // do you know who lives in wells? // Tony Blair // why pretend we have a seat at the table // there is no table // I thought I saw a table once // but it was a German Shepard // don’t test me world // I have a banner and a desire to watch the news // disseminate // revert & return // my lockdown walks are awe-inspiring // shame on the post office queue // the traffic lights haven’t been disinfected // stamp duty hasn’t // got anything to do with stamps // listen, carefully // I think I might just have something to say
Rebecca Sandeman is a (mainly) fiction writer currently living in various places. Her work has appeared in journals such as Strix, Prole, Ink Sweat & Tears and Route 57.