Category: Rituals

In the 70’s, becoming the 80’s,
after Our Bodies Ourselves
after International Women’s Year
after Indira Gandhi,
Golda Meir
and Margaret Thatcher
they introduced themselves
as Dr, Professor and occasionally Mr.
they referred to their fellows
as Dr, Professor, or Mr
their title earned
not to be shelved
to be worn, to be burnished with use.
Accidental informality quickly revised
familiarity frowned at and corrected.
Except two women –
full professors both,
they weren’t entitled to title
even the service staff called them Jane and Carolyn.

The boss never told me to get rid of my assistant
didn’t express an opinion on the assistant’s performance.
She said, “the girls on the wards,”
thought standards on the weekends
didn’t match those of the weekday –
damned by faint praise.
Did she agree? … “I’m never here on the weekends,”
but
“ perhaps you could talk to the girls on the wards,
they might be able to help.”

The assistant was from last century – literally
different award – different conditions – unionised,
hired when private healthcare was boutique – cost plus – fat layered.
Extraction difficult, slow –
chess,
move and counter move.
Just when result thought draw
clear sky lightening
a mistake – checkmate – resignation – bloodless.

The boss asked to see me
apparently my assistant was leaving
needed to spend more time with her children,
“I’m surprised, I thought the job suited her
could you organise a card and present.”

We both knew the answer –
some things are just known
without ever been spoken out loud,
information carried by the electrons of valence.
Que sera sera,
unless luck joins in.
Luck –
fickle, inconstant, independent
not made
not the prerogative of self-help
can’t be created, bought
or stored.
Luck comes along when luck decides to,
either it shows up, or it doesn’t.

Two tangents might touch at 90°
can cross,
at an airport
in a street market
during trauma. Chance is a black cat
or four-leaf clover
not be relied upon …… or trusted
no voting rights, or veto.

“Will we see each other again?”
Synapses cut the cards : NO
“ Yes.”
It was what I needed to hear,
what she needed to say.