That Google thrill;

seeing your name overtake

drain clearers, garage owners,

estate agents, even playwrights.

Habit had to be fed,

became second nature.

Alarmingly easy. Just change

a location, you’re on to a winner.

 

Imitation built a growing

reputation; flattery,

offers to publish

a first collection. That

MA in creative writing.

Creative wasn’t the half of it.

And raises the question: just

what did they teach him to do? 

 

The burglar alarms did ring,

eventually. January

is the cruellest month,

not April. Now

the cat’s out of the bag,

the damselflies have escaped,

and the deer are rampaging

through the forest.