Tuesday, 8 July 2025

a thin disguise









Manor Crescent (aged 12)  

 

Imago remembers sitting in the window

he’ll be there a long time   just watching

 

the discovery of other people   people he knows

suddenly disconnected having lives outside of himself

 

himself as observer   this is a new trick this invisibility

the radio is playing    he is sitting on the sill

 

knees drawn up under his chin   he’s

perched on this surprising sense of his being in the world

 

how he is in it and how he is not the centre and how his

seeing it makes it real but is unnecessary in making it so

 

the music is invisible too and only seems addressed to him personally

and is therefore perfect for the illusion of the imaginary connection

 

how the world shrinks down to the size of you   just to fit you in 

just to leave you on a shelf   wrapped in the thin disguise of yourself