Buggered – J.M. Ó Faoláin

April 10, 2026

wait in the dark
to summon
courage

1am

checking empties
beer bottles
cracked, splintered

asphalt stained
yellow

all the windows above—
could we remove them

red brick hives
colonies emptying

sod still fresh
bin rats collect

four years
and it
folds back
folds in

same habits

honest men
shut their mouths
to keep honest