Category: Antarctica

Jimmy Buffett was playing on the tape deck
‘A woman Going Crazy On Caroline Street’
promising to show her place
to someone who’ll be gentle
someone who’ll be sweet.
In the song the woman was a dancer
the woman introducing herself
Jules ….. Julia
was an HEO
Heavy Equipment Operator
cats
D8.

She worked for PW
Public Works
electricity, water, heat, transportation – umbilicals
work meant they couldn’t always make mealtimes, on time
early morning callouts
often meant a late breakfast
and no raisin toast
could I deliver some loaves – for the freezer.

Hut 5
home to Public Works
PW types burly, bearded, beer gutted, scowling.
OFF LIMITS.

I pushed open the door
12 sets of eyes incinerate
bringing to mind the Coliseum and Deliverance
“is Jules in?”
As slowly as molasses
a hirsuite form opens the door to the hallway of rooms
“Juuuuuuuullles” – a chainsaw revving to crescendo
“some cocksucker here to see you.”
I dropped the loaves and fled.

For the back story click Backstage

They were coolest people on the continent
artists in residence, United States Antarctic Program.
Every year, one or two
for the summer
or part of
transported to all points historic and contemporary
capturing struggle in a fragile Eden
or similarly syntaxed theme.
Invites to every party
introductions to all the bp’s
having a ball . . . . creating about hardship.

An artist could be
whatever art can be
painter
photographer
writer
put together a petition. And petition.
Art
the soul to the mind of science
and body of logistics.

He had been before
and written a book.
There was no free lunch
even here where meals are supplied without cost
artists had to pay the ferryman
with publication
exhibition
coffee table gloss.

He smiled too easily
and made his fame aware
to any who were unaware.
Fran was a shuttle bus driver
one of several, almost always, women
maintaining the umbilical between town and airfield
driving the crushed snow road every hour. 24/7.
The writer took to accompanying her
for the entire nine hour shift
squatting on the engine block when all seats taken
two thirds his age
butterscotch blonde
eye holding figure – undisguised by polar clothing.
We wondered. And then we didn’t.

His book was in the library
curiosity checked it out
the frontispiece
a dedication to
research assistant, editor, friend and wife – Anna.

For the back story click Backstage

Writers are by nature careful
stories trellised seedlings and cuttings
of imagination and fact.
Facts. Even when factual
can be problematic
sometimes more libellous than lies.

Just as backstreet hardscrabble can vanish with wealth
a 25 years after take me girl about town
may costume into always been respectable.
Besides
no 58-year-old woman wants her children
or grandchildren
knowing of past wild .
Before the Internet and the iPhone
Facebook, Instagram
or YouTube
no one will remember or have tangible record.
Still just in case a pseudonym – MM.

MM, impressively promiscuous – in a promiscuous town
not stunning
but more than passable to the eye
farm girl fair rather than pretty
tallish for a woman
sturdy without being fat
a tidy Ford sedan
not a European convertible.
Supply and demand
and here rides in very short supply.

MM’s birthday
her 33rd
on ice, literally
a wish
two young men not previously sampled.
A celebration to remember by all accounts.

For the back story click Backstage