Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

He was good to watch – scary for the successor
precision and anticipation
fast when speed was needed
patient when stress bullied in
a burst of laughter afterwards – always.

Born Peter
but Pete to everybody.
After he left, after they knew he had gone
all the sales rep’s were still disappointed
“ Pete left?” – as if popularity could reinstate.
The receptionists who phoned on their behalf, sighing –
sad to learn he was gone – wistful.
He had names for them all
Gorgeous, Sweetie, Tootsie, Buttons – they loved it.
It was the 1990’s – the rules didn’t apply to Pete.

For five days he was the sorcerer,
then I inherit all.
When the door of his reign closed
I felt slow and inadequate – unable to fill the space
not personality
mine was XXS – that was always known -the output.

For the first while,
busy found me,
things to learn, and become proficient in.
People thought I had it easy
that things were more hectic for Pete: “ he was so good under pressure.”
Heat and light,
he knew how they got mistaken.

Kennedy – almost America’s Royal Family
the First Family amongst the First Families
First Family of politics,
ambition,
ruthlessness,
face
vice
and Catholicism.
Would you vote for a Catholic in 1960?
When Al Smith lost in 1928
a prominent senator sent a telegram to the Pope – ‘ unpack.’

Actually Catholicism was the lesser of two evils for JFK
the bigger one was Joe –
his old man
bootlegger
moonshine
racketeer
wheeler dealer,
concupiscent , lascivious, and almost Nazi and profiteer.
Newly sanitised – “ Mr Ambassador ”…..
but nobody believed that.

On the trail in Virginia or Kentucky things turned ugly
hecklers hostile to JFK – one snarling
“ your old man’s just buying this election,”
simmering ugliness threatened to boil .
“You’re exactly right,” replied JFK
“ and the old man said don’t win big,
I’m damned if I’m paying for a landslide.”

Friday afternoon, Physical Chemistry –
quantum mechanics, orbitals, spin states
the mathematics beyond intimidating
downright scary
most are like six-year-olds, when
first encountering long division.

Little wonder the end of the week pub lunch
tempted most to stay on
usually, propriety, reluctantly flipped the devil away
but occasionally –
“ I guess I’ll get the notes from someone.”

One of the cohort did, then thought better –
turning up 30 minutes into a 50 minute class
tried to sneak in but poor timing
the lecturer had just turned around from the board
“ is it worth coming now,”
sarcasm triple coated each word
“ well, it sounded awfully interesting from outside.”