The First World War

Fighting in the first world war
Had knocked my clock onto the floor
I’ve wanted to know for eighty-four years
What’s the time and is it the hour for tea?
I must have found some new words now
A blast of air the lips allow
A liquid bridge across the alveolar ridge
So go ahead and burn your dictionaries
I drove through the rain in my blue car
And then I left the door ajar
Incessant dinging as the pay phone’s ringing
Just to say
«Would you pull your lips off his cheek?»
I stayed in bed with someone new
For half the day and thought of you
No more stomach clocks and half-broken locks
To-day's the best day I’ve had so far without you
Would you hold the umbrella for me?