Tom
Trainor - COCOON - Page 2 of 4
For decades ago Hyde
Farms raised prize
Thoroughbreds
The stables and meadows
where
Race horses once grazed
/ Now abound
With quarter acre
tracts of flat
Bungalows
Occupied by waves
of invading
Immigrants
With Hugo the only
Hyde left / Last scion
From a fine family
/ He abides
Barricaded behind
The New York Times
Unread
Tapping out something
Indecipherable / With
Demonic intensity
The sight of / The
fright of
Huge Hugo Hyde
Doesn't prevent these
three
Neighborhood kids
from
Snooping / No
They're merciless
They chide him / Deride
him
Rattle the handle
/ Scatter when
Hugo comes hollering
after
"Leave! / Leave me
alone / I own
My own home!"
Laugh / They mock
Since Hugo's so slow
/ Up
Out of his chair /
Fat
Can't get passed
The door / The dog
Too old it can barely
ru-roof
Cats / Legions of
which recline
Supine / Stretch /
Scratch
Upon stacks / Of
The New York Times
Combined with a stench
/ That pervades the
Balustrade outside
/ Though
Hugo's safe / Enclosed
within a
Thick case / A
Cocoon
Why / Why
Do these kids taunt
him so / Try to
Flush him out
See what Hugo Hyde's
made of
Flesh / No bone
Hand to mouth his
existence
Rest and digest
Age indeterminate
Occupation none /
Yet
Beyond
The Victorian's balustrade
porch
There's war / There's
more
Those coping with
loss
Costs
A mortgage / No job
New babe on the way
An emergency room
visit
Though Hugo Hyde's
immensely
Oblivious
He pays cash for the
delivery man's
Visit
The kids / They creep
upon the
Balustrade porch /
Catch
Hugo dozing
Contentedly sprawled
across his leather
Lounger
Dog too / The cats
Kids could care less
/ They
Bang on the panes
"Hugo / Fat Hugo"
They cry / Run off
Hugo's so startled
he stays awake
Day and nightmares
/ Plays
Hide and get sought
/ Awaits the next
Onslaught
If their creeping
and peeping aren't
Punishment enough
Come Halloween / Three
masked marauders
Rattle the knob
Cats go ballistic
The dog ru-roofs
Hugo tries / Struggles
to rise
To rise too late to
Retaliate
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