Category: Love

It was a competitive course
marked in the prospectus with an asterix.

* restricted entry

Many call – few get chosen –
postgraduate,
those who have done well. Very well.
The clever.
The entitled.
The swollen headed.
The supercilious.
All were some of the above,
some were all of the above.
The elite,
Miss Jean Brodie’s crème de la crème
in the prime, of ego
early, very early, 20s.

Day 1
students meet staff. Staff meet students
clockwise introduction of self and interests –
five minutes, from now
coffee, and home.

Day 2
opening day of business
head of department, for one hour
of housekeeping and “ where to go for …..”
 • If murder has been committed: him
 • If manslaughter: his secretary
 • For everything else : Edward

“ Edward ,” flippancy flips formidable
“ is one of life’s gems ….
this department would not function without him,
I don’t want any of you upsetting him in any way.”

Most had already joined the dots : gay –
then not yet accepted
derisible
and
risible,
easy and no limit prey. Game season is closed – indefinitely.

 

Work life balance,
aspiration,
goals and dreams,
contentment and self actualisation …. 40 years ago –
the man in the factory laughed, put the paper aside and said “bullshit,
all people want is a home, money, health and to screw,”
then paused – maybe religion too.
Upbringing was catholic and CATHOLIC
High Mass on Sundays – dawn, on feast days
Easter : insistent serial ceremonies
at one point childhood pouted: no chocolate and no church –
a deal – well, almost.
Grandfather, unusually, was not diligent
he felt sympathy for the Devil –
Grandma reached an accommodation
a blind eye …. except when the grandchildren.
The age has been reached when code is cracked
aware, but, they are not yet
overhearings in the kitchen –
appearances
insincerity
expected compulsion.
“No, you’re 75 now – you can make up your own mind.”

 

It was an old joke
if the hills were visible
rain was likely
if the hills were not visible, it was raining.

South West New Zealand,
a 500 km asphalt ribbon,
look left, water from the equator
look right, snow from Antarctica,
clouds on the run
from Africa, Asia and Australia
spawning against the mountain axis
rain – 1 inch per day
400 per year
one day without = 2 inches with.

Six or eight inches fell that day,
even Noah would have stayed indoors,
the motor camp, at last –
a biking holiday
young and poor
a tent for two site, please.
“No,” said the manger
words and tone disagreeing
I’m not letting you stay in a tent in this
you’re going inside.”

“We … we..”
she has anticipated.
“What did you pay last night?
Ten dollars.
Then ten dollars it is.”