Category: Love

Perhaps in the future
BC as division, will be replaced with
BI
a line sharp and bright, separating paper from electrons.
BI : Before the Internet
BI, job applications were handwritten or typed
sealed in envelopes marked personal & confidential
posted or face delivered.

The perfect blend
research position – part-time
interesting and challenging, but not wanting to move in.

Photocopy CV
type covering letter
handwrite application form.
Time – plenty. Then there wasn’t
mail could not promise to be faithful to closing date
no sweat – switch to manual – hand carry
but,
industrial action
the Public Service strident about wages.
The receptionist is not
but an offsite manager summoned to cover.
She offers quantification
many tasks, limited knowledge, zero familiarity
“ it closes today ”
pause…. her stress is palpable
no reprimand
no exculpation
no IOU not to re-offend
“I’ll make sure it gets there.” She did.

She always wondered what he thought,
he didn’t know of the 50 years of marriage
two children
several different places called home
a holiday cottage by the sea.
He had no knowledge of the clever fingers –
hands that could restore magic to broken machinery
or conjure improvements.
Of lost capacities
found only on videotape.
That the chapters of life were all complete
and now it was the appendix of a rest home –
full-time care
and one outing a week
a drive to the familiar part of the city
close to where he grew up.
The man in the shop didn’t see a grandmother, mother and wife
he saw only a woman in her 70’s buying two ice creams,
every week,
for several years.

He had been born Harold
liked by some
admired and respected by many
most called him Harry
those who disliked him … other names.
He was rather proud of some
“ it’s a free world –
and I call people bad names, so if it’s ok for me …”.

Self-made.
He’d arrived in the country three decades earlier with nothing –
a builder’s labourer.
Now he owned a construction company
multi-storey building,
multi-multimillionaire.

I never quite figured out my job.
There was always work,
things to do – busy
but it didn’t seem to be …. a job.

It isn’t said my boss,
but Harry says this country’s been good to him
needs graduates,
and students need holiday work,
so every summer he employs half dozen or so.
He added
it’s his company – no shareholders or partners, just him
his profits
so actually,
he’s paying from his own pocket.