Canvassing

I expect you’ll be wanting the usual.
Is it really five years since we last met?
A handshake’s fine, yes, but the baby’s
six now and he might object to a kiss.

I saw you on the local news recently…
if you don’t mind my saying
I think your smile needs work;
less teeth and more eyes, perhaps?

Don’t worry, you’ll have my vote again
but the other lot came round
and there didn’t seem much to choose.
Dad voted for you though, so it’s tradition.

Mind, it’s not as if there’s any point
voting the other way here, is there?
You’ve got quite a majority, we’re loyal.
It’d just be nice to see a bit more of you.

Ben Banyard lives and writes in Portishead. His work has appeared, or is forthcoming, in Popshot, Lunar Poetry, The Dawntreader, Ink Sweat & Tears, Snakeskin, The Stare’s Nest, Sarasvati and others. Ben edits Clear Poetry, a blog publishing accessible contemporary poetry: https://clearpoetry.wordpress.com