Category: Love

Circumstances made indelible his name,
thought about calling him, but never got beyond that –
besides, would he remember,
have the time
be pleased,
or even give a damn?
After reading the obituary
hindsight answered : Yes. Would make it. Absolutely. Yes.

At the interview I told the truth
I was out of work –
had returned from eight years abroad –
to another country. The 3 R’s –
recession, retrenchment, redundancy.
Unfazed, yes things were very difficult out there –
in fact some applicants with good jobs
willing to trade higher wages for greater security
but,
bringing in his co-interviewer –
“Mary, it would be nice to give a young person a chance
good to have a few more men around.”
She will be the immediate superior –
openly, transparently …. honestly, unenthusiastic.
He showed me out
saying, “leave it with me.”
He clearly intended to work on her … but it didn’t work.

“Thank you for attending …. Unfortunately.
Two or three lines of official sympathy
then
a hand-written appendix

I’m sorry I couldn’t give a more favourable reply …
things are starting to turn …..
I’m sure a good opportunity is not too far away…. stay positive.

Mea culpa,
literally : through my fault
it was –
negligence,
stupidity 101,
first degree fuck-up.

Just after dawn
shredded wheat rock and tungsten ice
turned amiable snow
constant fear costume swaps for almost done.
We can take the rope off now
fingers already figuring summit shutter click swindle attention …
the gear rack …
freefalls 400 hard gained metres
a quickstep abseil exit now impossible
or steep ridge descent.
Only one thing for it,
rest of day snow trudge over adjacent peak
and moonlighting glacier plod.
I brace for jet stream abuse.

“I’m not going to say anything,
you know what you’ve done.”

Hair uncoloured
clothes unconcerned with chic and conscious of cost
Scholl approved shoes
approachably formal
experienced, observant and almost perfect recall
collecting and archiving – a remote server except
proximate – with politics and people of the workplace.

She must have known
could not, not have known
how they sneered – almost all of them
at her appearance
physique
values
intellect,
her husband.
Impossible for one so well-informed
and intuitive
not to detect
or sense.

I said it was starting to bite
something needed to be done – before it was too late
too much was being spent on the staff
meals especially
the subsidy had to be reduced
and everybody start paying.
She said I want my staff to feel appreciated
that their employer values them.