Talk

An epidemic swept the Western world In the ‘80s
every male between 20 and 47 affected a moustache
according to an acid tongued TV reviewer
Tom Selleck was the contagion – Magnum P.I the vector

At take-away stands
ticket windows
parent teacher nights
the population found itself talking to a moustache.
Everywhere
TV news, lecterns, cabs, moustaches spoke back.
Perhaps it was revenge for the 1970s
women couldn’t do everything after all.

It’s what I remember most about my first boss.
the moustache
it bristled every time he mentioned
any of his many prejudices.
I think Ron the most egalitarian person I met
he had a bad word for everyone.

Deeply conservative
he believed in God
the Queen
Communist’s were evil
and although twice divorced
had special reverence for marriage.

He greatly admired Reagan and Thatcher
their philosophy and economics
particularly economics.
More market, less government
the economy would be fine
if only the government would stay the hell out.
Private enterprise was decisive
effective and testicular – no pussies
that’s what he liked
“how it bloody well should be.”

It’s many years since I listened to his hacksaw virility
he retires at the end of this one
a civil servant for 44 years
not a single day in private enterprise.
He never went to the altar with his alter ego.