Dead Dog in an Alleyway - Richard Dawson

Dead dog in an alleyway, dusted with snow

On a bed of burst bin bags

Underneath the big fans

Behind the Premier Inn and for your eyes only

No fit place to spend the night —

Maybe I can go in the pedestrian tunnel

Stag do’s and football dicks

They give me the most shit

«Disgusting animal»

Ahh

Over there in the labyrinth of neon

You can hear the voices lift through the icy air

Hooting and projectile vomiting

And the distant sound of sirens

Dead dog in an alleyway, dreaming of home

In the moment just before I awake to a savage kicking

Blows rain down upon me through the blackness of my sleeping bag

Help me, help me, please help me

Won’t you please help me?

Anyone?

The city melts away into a crisp new day

I am still here

Ahh

Drifting off at the glowing Nando’s

You can hear the families chatter with each swing of the door

Music, tinkling cutlery, and the laughter of the little ones

Ahh-ahh, ahh-ahh

Ahh-ahh, ahh-ahh

Ahh-ahh, ahh-ahh

Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh

Over there in the labyrinth of neon

You can hear the voices lift through the icy air

Hooting and projectile vomiting

And the distant sound of sirens