Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

The boss said there was no need to meet regularly
another meeting to schedule
and
there were enough already
time and all that.
Besides,
bad news didn’t need a courier
was pretty good at finding its own way.
No news, being good news I guessed.

If there had been
I might have raised the matter with her
or it just bobbed to the surface.
It seemed too petty
too trivial
to make an appointment for.

One of the cleaners
“your domestics,” the nurses called them
was not cleaning as she could, or should
tricky,
because there were no indictable lapses
no corrosion or rust
just not enough shine.

Discretion thought about looking away
but shortfall seemed, so calibrated, so knowing
and epidemiology warned
imitation might become infectious.

The manual suggested asking if there was problem
If any help was needed?
or advice?
“No, ”
but she had some for me.
Translated it said
I was here when you came
and I’ll be here when you’ve gone. She was.

When she had been married long enough to know
marriage wasn’t all spring and summer
that chill could occur
or
petals fall, in any season
that the real course work came in the post graduate years
and
a pet dog was evolution’s wolf,
she asked her mother
if she had ever considered divorce?
No.
Not once?
No.
Really?
Yes,
“murder, many times, divorce, never, it was unthinkable.”

Just before the end of an interview
the curveball question
perpendicular to topic
designed to unsettle.
“ What is the most important thing to you.”
I answer. With the truth.

They laugh
and ask again
the reply ricochets
pens are suspended
puzzled looks exchanged.

A pause
filled with shuffling paper
is there anything to be added? “No.”
Normal transmission resumes.

It is an elite course they explain
places are limited, competition fierce
finalisation may take six weeks
if unsuccessful, reasons can be disclosed.

The letter arrives with bad news
or, perhaps it is good
and an invite to seek clarification.
Curiosity defeats rancour.

The answer for failure –
a lack of verbal confidence
the answer to the awkward question
Ruth : the person I have spent my life with.