1

She
swept
the stairs
at the flats
and hated her job
why did she say someone hid it
the long-handled broom that was wielded like a weapon?
she used it at night and flew to the cauldron where magic was made
it was found in the garage in a rolled up carpet
I heard voices in the stairwell
grandma blaming me
her voice strange
magic
spells
work

2

My
friend
watched
no cock crows
no other witness
student frat-hazing
college guys needing a target
arms and legs grabbed I was hoisted struggling and stretchered
Judas looked scared he picked up my sneakers holding them like amputated body parts
my tee-shirt ripped open as I wriggled, spread-eagled
down concrete stairs to the showers
show us what you got!
unbuckled
I learnt
to
kick

3

Who
was
that man?
it was Bates
I'd never met him
but I saw my father's hatred
written on the face where I had always seen kindness
It was always Bates, Colonel Bates
never forgiven
thirty years
after
the
act

What
did
Bates do?
I don't know
Did he hide that broom,
had he provoked my attackers
who else would he terrorise out there in the shadows?
Colonel Bates lives inside my head
don't let him get you
Bates is dead
father
died
too