Category: Death

Intimacy earned or default
often eyed with envy, sometimes spite
children are greedy of parents and grandparent’s favour
men compete with men for unaccompanied company of woman
friendship pretends not to rank
pretends there is no ranking.

By chemistry states of better form and change
seduced or imprisoned by temperature
the twirl of steam
the hostility of ice
temperature’s favour or displeasure.

We were three friends three years into a third decade
forever seemed inevitable
diminished proximity diminished contact – but not warmth
one ritual inviolate
we always moved one another
cars, trailers, muscles, artificial derision of possessions
payment by the one moving
beer and pizza at the Italian place frequented as students.

Human relations can be a Russian novel
cameo in chapter 3 becomes a major character on page 857
the eternal bachelor not the same
evidence of change everywhere
hairstyle, wardrobe, spending
long-standing insignificance become significant
she was moving in   ….  and they out .
A new home in the fashionable suburb
beer and pizza I said.
“No.”Professionals had been contracted.

A celebration was arranged
quiet sometimes chooses the most inappropriate moments
the party din briefly silent
an innocuous question to the bride-to-be
“this Friday, friends with cars and trailers.”
The almost husband stares at his glass
the bottom intensely interesting
noise swells back
washing our friendship away.

Arthur said his friend never forgave himself
said the friend whose name we never learned
was the most gentle and patient of men
if he hadn’t been
the outcome would have been so much different.

It was the final day in the calendar
the last day of the decade of peace and love
they were travelling to the lake town
to see in New Year. Auld Lang Syne and all that.

The road still young
only recently cut
the weather warm hearted and quiet
not common at 44° south.
Snow scarfed mountains
bush bearded bluffs
an uncaged river
and the blue, blue day
landscape soliciting a photograph – at the layby after the bridge.

One of the mountains
another of the coast.
A man climbs from under the bridge into the viewfinder
the photographer lowers the camera
talking gently to his son
explaining there is no ice cream here
but at the first possible opportunity there will be.
10 or 20 seconds. 60 at greatest
the bank climber is in his car driving toward ocean.
Click.

The police didn’t find the body
the smell found them.
The photograph of the disappearing car enlarged to fill a wall
the numberplate would not yield.
Time like energy and matter cannot be created
the seconds spent by a patient father
can never be repurchased
never exchanged for credit
never refunded
irretrievable forever
they were the hush money needed to get away with murder.

For the back story click Backstage
If you like a piece of writing (or the site) please share

There were no tears or smiles
just an untangling of limbs
and inconsequential chatter.
Memory begins to gather.

Strands of doubt and desire
knot to procrastination.
Time can wait no longer
a decision is required. Now.

Then, complications were absent
no cry of a newborn
or uncertainty of career
only certitude of self.

Passion’s slow fade
answers the door to second thoughts
listens
and agrees
ecstasy cannot repeat.

For the back story click Backstage
If you like a piece of writing piece (or the site) please share