Category: Death

Very few things linger after they have elapsed
summers
sporting performance
wedding ceremonies
workmates from jobs past.Sarah did.

We didn’t have time to be friends
both too busy
she with husband and two children
me 41 staff and ill tempered budget.
When stress was inescapable
a night tap dripping
a smile said she understood
the scars on her arms confirmation.
She had qualified for university, but not studied
sighing, “ oh but you know “
knowing I didn’t … and did.
She wasn’t there on my last day
so there was no goodbye
perhaps that’s why memory kept her.

12 years
the space between conversations.
Time enough for 39 to become 51
Youth, middle age
two boys to grow from childhood to tertiary education
“yes, both at university now.”
Sarah still looked the same
sighing, “I’m an old lady,” but was pleased
trivia dribbles to an end point
both looking for a departing remark when
she hoped I didn’t mind…
…… but ……… had always wondered
why I had left what seemed to be a good job.

Sometimes clarity just is. I told the truth
said in addition to the essential elements of life
shelter, food, water etc etc one must be added – laughter.
In the final two years
I never laughed
not once
at some point laughter had died.

His brother in law like to josh him
not about being a priest
or even belief in God
more about the range of alternatives
the other banks into which to deposit faith.
Sun worshipper
Scientologist.
Water diviner.
Yoga master

There was no malice, friendship longstanding
predating ordination
before Holy Orders there had been last orders
still were, only one couldn’t buy many rounds.
Poverty, chastity and obedience
sister and husband couldn’t do much about the last two
but did take him places
footing the bill
going as a family
children, father, mother and Father
once to an annual carnival.

The two saw the tent simultaneously.
Madame Claire.
decoder of stars
forecaster of the future.
The priest declined
then without ever knowing why or how
inverted the challenge
his companion loss of faced into a reading.

Long fingers of bone wrap around an offered palm
a shudder and prediction – precise and brutal.
death by automobile on a prescribed day.
Frivolity shrank
both emerge shaken and silent
neither mention it again.

On the forecast date
succumbing to should know better ill ease
the brother-in-law stayed at home.
Inside. All day.
In the early evening a motor vehicle accident
one fatality – time and place intersected exactly with his life.

Time shifts extending and renouncing favour
new order dismisses the old
what was influential can become obsolete
the insignificant ascends to influence.
Before reliable contraception and enlightened thinking
women faced brief and brutal career choices
teaching, nursing or domestic service
all passport to punitive grind.

Technology and egalitarianism
made domestic service extinct
education and health care have prospered
elevated from barely skilled to smart degrees.
Nursing goes to college. What would Nightingale think?

For pretty young women in private hospitals
instant admission to the middle class
unfamiliar to some
status. Income. A nice workplace. Very nice.
Susie, Sharon, Kate. My fair Ladies
the table the new present
betrayed their practised past.
At functions, Christmas, retirement, unveilings
food is rapaciously snatched
unmindful of rationing’s parameters, price and quantity.
Lunchtime conversation dual tasking
eating and talking – simultaneously.

Service staff exist for their convenience
and condescension.
Suppressed backchat to difficult patients
unleashed on cleaners and food workers.

They were so young
carefree, uncritical of beliefs and self
life a pleasure craft yacht
yet to know angry waters.

They must be in their 40’s now
perhaps the winter squalls of time
of infidelity, of foreclosure, of thwarted ambition
lessen self entitlement and broaden tolerance.
Or warm summer currents
of marriage, of children, of dreams attained
ease contentment into middle class berth
leaving working class slipway with nothing to prove.