An All American National Sport

I unpacked my troubles 
from an old safeways bag 
underneath Cardboard City lights 
these two charactors bought me supper 
and they gave me some [bad word] 
and I settled down for the night 
 
and I dreamt I was [bad word] 
on a tropical ocean 
sailing home to the missus in Kilburn 
and there on my bunk 
were all her letters of devotion 
with some drawings and kisses 
from the children 
 
And I dreamt I was an artist  
like Toulouse-Lautrec or Manet 
drinking like a [bad word] in Madrid 
instead of underneath the arches 
with Flanagan and Allen 
not a million miles from Chelsea bridge 
 
And then I woke up from my dreams 
the neighbours heard the screams 
and all the stray dogs  
were barking at the smell 
those two scumbags [bad word] back 
with some matches and some petrol 
set fire to my bed and left me burning 
IN [bad word] #33;