Category: Lies

Her surname was a synonym for brutal
It seemed apt.
Older – not by much
a policewoman in the life before this
used to remaining unchallenged
and having the last word.

The workplace as playground contest
some feel obligated
baiting, taunting, gibing
put downs – timing is everything
skilful and lethal
like fisherman executing trout
with insects betrayed as barbs of wire.

When tension had passed
and anxiety calm
a deft feint of her tongue
then
the beheading edge.
One upmanship
with the discretion of a scalpel
the promiscuity of a bomb.

Away from an audience
her back turned against bravado
engaging
almost warm.
Inside
was meek Helen
working hard – very hard, pumping up tough Helen.

Silver haired and self-assured. Charming.
He was willing to help

Nothing was a problem
generous with his time
afternoon slides into dusk
he offers dinner – basic but filling.

We are a spontaneous collection of mountaineers
a mixture of hard experience and soft dreams
Four planning to climb a test piece peak
but only having equipment for two.

He is managing a nearby ski field
we ponder if they have any surplus equipment
expecting to be rebuffed but surprised.
Yes. It was a quiet time. It should be okay.

Four people did we have a second rope?
No. It would be much faster. They had a spare.
Only later is the significance realised
when an old climber intones two things in life are never lent
a wife
and a rope.

The start is an hour’s walk from the village
we can borrow his car.
I look on in amazement at the generosity
I would love to have.

After success a celebratory drink
only coffee but seeming like Scotch
deep and warming
a surprise visit from our benefactor
he kisses the only woman of the four
full and lingering.

A diner. Zero tips. Large wages. Priceless location
Antarctica.
cleaning tables, washing pots, swabbing floors
subservient and cheerful
smile wide open. Opinions firmly closed.
Three meals – seven days – 1000 people.

Living was almost free
accommodation and food supplied. No charge.
Extravagant incomes
frugal expenses
instinct would expect gratitude. Not always.
Food was the linguistics of discontent. One couple fluent.

Adventure had not travelled south with them
entitlement made no allowance for geography.
Very married – inseparable.
they moved in a pod of suburban expectation.

To mealtimes they brought the presumptions of an owner
and a critic’s notebook.
At day’s end their table was a court – they minor monarchs
tables to be vacated by 8.oopm did not apply
to attempt enforcement was to invite intimidating temper.

Illusion is a heated balloon
beckoned by current
gravity suspended by artifice.
They were very married
the summers of their lives.
One season. Two hemispheres. Four people.