the terrifying dad of my best friend Gavin
was standing outside his workshop having
all his mates round from the biker club
to admire his work on a Tiger Cub

I stood there too but didn’t know mechanics
so when it went quiet I started to panic
I wanted them to see I was into bikes
but the only thing I could think of was pipes

I squatted down and grasped the exhaust
still red hot from riding of course
I gasped, said shit, flew straight backwards
(can’t remember my exact words)

and it wasn’t so much my pulsing red hand
as their silent treatment I couldn’t stand:
5 parts contemptuous, 5 parts saddened
then carrying on as if nothing had happened