Listen to the world’s best poetry read out loud.

1. Plumb Line 

First box of bricks, 

all those wobbly towers, 

getting the hang of how they stand, 

then that fight with the kid next door 

over who could build highest, 

blood got into the cement. 

Older, out with a hard hat 

and a blueprint for a monolith, 

tallest landmark on the horizon. 

It blocks your neighbours view, 

old scores to settle, 

much more blood in the rubble. 

2. Jigsaw

There isn’t a finished picture on the lid. 

You must climb into the box, 

subterranean, skewed, 

breathe the wrecked atmosphere, 

search for the pieces with arc light and lifting gear, 

un-weld limbs from metal – work out 

which leg goes with which torso. 

There is a foot left over. 

No recognisable corners or straight edges. 

That foot doesn’t fit anyone, 

and there is never enough sky.