Category: Rituals

Blue, blue day
late spring countryside, still green, soon it will be yellow
then brown.
900 m to sea level
3000 feet to 0
youth, fitness, tailwind :God’s trifecta.

We pulled into the car park at the same time
them in upmarket sedan
me on two wheels
both attend to grooming
me brushing off dust, flicking away sweat
they loosening ties and removing jackets
hot.
Feet, four pairs of expensive leather
one of sneakers
crunch gravel.

We hold the door for each other
“ no after you ”
five tumble through simultaneously.
At the bar
“ what are you having – our shout ”
one lager and four single malt’s,
I join their table – they insist.

They have come from my destination – a funeral,
a good mate
from about, “ the age you are now.”
Forty years before
the war just ended …. their lives just about to begin.

They tell me about the road
when it was shingle
and before the bridges – the fords and washouts
they had come up here a bit then
“ hunting and stuff ” – no wives and kids yet.

Eyes of six and a half decades shimmer and glow
four,
once again five, once again young.

 

The city’s working life began here
founded
amongst foundries and warehouses
no place for beauty
or time for frill.
Masculine
haloed with smoke
coal breathed
stinking and wet clothed
cold watered
in your face sewerage.
Cramped cottages
estranged from comfort
segregated from affluence.
Cut to
boutique shopping
shining four-wheel drives
designer lofts
dead factories reborn as apartments
pedigree children.
The ghosts turn and shake their heads,
there must be some mistake.

Swept aside by social media
rendered redundant by Facebook
yesterday’s news by twitter
passé by Instagram
no surprises by snapchat.
It was the very last allegiance to childhood
taking your beau or beauess to uncles and aunts.

Introduction unfolded with a certain pace and ritual
a telephone call
an inquiry as to general health
of offspring’s health and career chartings
praising and sighing
tut tuting in accord as necessary or expected.
Then
shifting
an invitation to self and one other
“ there is someone I would like you to meet ”
no other information necessary,
the ancient ones knowing and curious.

High tea
how to dress? For cold and chill.

I was at home when they called –
visiting from the other end of the country
the ceremony allows for contingency,
I am included.

Coffee or tea and cake,
small talk and goodwill
the rules allow for how and where
“ known each other long?” ask my mother.
“ Oh yeah, quite a while,” says the nephew
“ YES,” affirms his soon-to-be fiancée, “ 19 days.”