{"id":3814,"date":"2018-09-04T10:04:28","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T10:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/translatingpain\/?p=3814"},"modified":"2018-09-04T10:04:28","modified_gmt":"2018-09-04T10:04:28","slug":"early-onset-by-david-punter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/a-bel-abroad\/early-onset-by-david-punter\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Early Onset’, by David Punter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like a tennis ace, all<\/span>
\nCrisp white shorts, and shirts<\/span>
\nFresh every day,<\/span>
\nHe sits over the breakfast<\/span>
\nTable, too big<\/span>
\nFor any chair, an elbow\u00a0<\/span>
\nPlanted, a one-hand scoop<\/span>
\nOf eggs and bacon,<\/span>
\nSolid muscle in the arm<\/span>
\nAnd thigh, his neck<\/span>
\nA bronze pillar<\/span>
\nOf glowing flesh.<\/span>
\nAnd then you see<\/span><\/p>\n

Slight tremor, and glimpse<\/span>
\nThe massive continuing act<\/span>
\nOf self-control that holds<\/span>
\nThis huge frame\u00a0<\/span>
\nTogether, prevents<\/span>
\nSpillage, leakage, any sign<\/span>
\nThat one day soon<\/span>
\nTendon may spasm,<\/span>
\nThe merest lifting of a fork<\/span>
\nAn impossible task,<\/span>
\nAnd are aghast<\/span>
\nBefore this terrible<\/span>
\nDoomed dignity.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n