Category: Before the Rain

Subtraction –
= addition in reverse
= moving backwards = undoing
= minus (-) : most trusted helpmate of revision.
Infinite subtraction
returns infinity … to zero.

Divorce – marriage – love – error of judgment = single
single – divorce – hatred – loser husband/wife = new marriage.

A man once told me,
he was solely responsible for electing George W. Bush,
because,
after the invasions and the wars,
everyone claimed not to have  …. “so it must have been me.”
Conscience – polling booth choice = absolution.

I almost missed it,
in Saturday’s paper, 8cm x 8cm.
‘We seek ….’
It was the perfect job. It still would be.
I saw it over 30 years ago,
and wanted it. I still would.

For three months a gypsy’s life,
finish one crop, move to another
berries – hops – tobacco.
The trick the old hands said, was a tree job
apples or pears – a solid 3 or 4 months,
not a few weeks like the vines and bushes.
The best came last –
an orchard at the tail end of the season.

Topography
rising
closing fist-like to the hills.
The sun came late and left early
when alone
and when light and shadow colluded
The Deliverance came to mind.

“Generous Mike,” we called the owner
example: serve lukewarm tea and coffee
“ you’ve finished your drink – back to work.”
Blood from a stone? Perhaps not,
but eight hours + 2, 3 or 4 minutes – everyday.
Later I learned of his large mortgage
half a million
when being a millionaire was still a landmark.

Five permanent staff and four seasonal –
an American midwife,
a cardiologist to be,
a Bank of Ireland economist on sabbatical
and a brand-new graduate.

One break time we asked about attractions
any recommendations?
We could go to the beachside campground
one replied,
and see people without clothes,
he often did – circuiting slowly in his car.

Every year in the dying summer
a spring tide of human flotsam
floods the harvest town.

Necessity vs intolerance
gusts of ill ease ruffle provincialism.
Razor tongued judgement = tongue bitten resignation.

Dropouts
and opt outs
dreamers, and the disillusioned
merge to eclectic diaspora.

Needed and unwanted
they crawl over the area,
like a goldminer staking a claim.

They know the best places,
whose wife bakes muffins
and who
and where to avoid.

There are no complications
nothing is unknown
during daylight – work….
… after sunfall
once dark enfolds
and labour has showered and eaten – ask no questions.

Then,
as autumn empties to winter,
when everything is gathered,
tolerance separates from necessity –
until next year.