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https://soundcloudcom/user-856373367/the-rake-packs-up-his-troubles The Rake packs up his troubles in an old kit-bag and smiles, smiles, smiles   Holding things, I found, was holding me up So nowadays I’m mostly empty- handed, bearing nothing but the stitched shoulder strap to this, my dashing hell- for-leather holdall — the mark of a life spent all over These last few years or so, I’ve gathered nothing that would make it stretch or crack Nothing That’s what made it stretch and crack all over: these last few years Or so I’ve gathered, for leather holds all the marks of a life spent with shoulders strapped to this, my dashing hell Hunted, baring nothing, I’ve been stitched up so nowadays I’m mostly empty, holding things I found were holding me       https://soundcloudcom/user-856373367/the-rake-invites-you-to-the-weepies The Rake invites you to the weepies   Don’t be lugubrious, my newest friend Bite lugubrious Roll it around, and roll around in it  Take a dive in its lubricious, bleak lagoon, lukewarm and wallowsome Drink deep and swoon The salt will lift you like a vast and sudden futon, a waterbed, luxurious and soft and overfed, the kind they advertise   in why-oh-widescreen at the multiplex The eyeless ushers mutter unless   unless Shush The trailers are my favourite bit It’s dark in here Can you remember where we wandered in from? Good Forget about it while I brush this popcorn from your hair       https://soundcloudcom/user-856373367/the-rakes-apology The Rake’s apology   Darling, let me lay it at your feet, blinking and soft, a helpless little wolfcub huddled inside a gingham picnic-basket on a cold night, on your doorstep, the fog a clean slate, no sign of the coming flurry, the never-ending blizzard Do not worry Though it may break things, let it be your dog Snowed in, you’ll feed it steak tartare and brisket, its licked-clean bowl the colour of false love, of the ice outside the window, of its teeth