Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

Kath seemed young for someone thought old
45 is – to an early 30’s male.
She cold called looking for work
then confessed knowledge of impending vacancy
laughing, “you have to be in to win”
then serious, her CV could vouchsafe hard work
then convincing – she wouldn’t let me down.

In over a decade of selecting staff
she was the best hiring made
unrelenting in cheer and effort
the highest standards, work and personal
praise was held at a sensible distance
“this is so is so much better than most places I’ve worked
people here don’t know when they’re well off.”

She seemed to understand the burdens of a boss
becoming
that most useful workplace accessory
an ear which listens – then deletes
where confidential goes, between paper and shredder.

A fellow employee in hardscrabble circumstances
became pregnant
by choice
a planned addition to her family.
Reservation spoke to Kath about the wisdom
pondering the prudence of straining already scarce funds.

By formal mathematics all entities can be valued and ranked
by popular sociology judgement is a greater sin than indiscretion
which is greater than gossip.
Frost : such a reliable informant
directly or indirectly the woman with child knows
never again speaking to me unless unavoidable
shrunk, razor wire phrases.
Trust, a diamond much time in formation
destroyed forever by careless cutting.

The classroom has another life at night.
Fire and dreams
hope, a clandestinely ignored lover by day
takes an unselfconscious seat.

Writing as with cooking
everybody thinks they can
know they have a magical creation within.

Feeding the need
stroking malignant ego
addicting the habit
taking the money
it’s what she does.

A writer teaching writing
who doesn’t any more
praising work that should be binned
soothing re-enrolment into the next class
bringing in the fees
a smile to the accountants
and another contract.

Complacent and torpid
It’s easy money
promising dreams
long after her own have died.

“Same difference,” frustration mumbled.
not always said the farmer
whose acute hearing had been forgotten.
He came to farming late
from teaching  mathematics
equivalent and equal were similar, but different.
An example
many years before
a doctor friend worked in outback Australia
early one evening the doctor called to a farm
a worker gored by a bull
during the night the injury gathered pace.
The farmhand died.

In the morning the landowner demanded answers
the doctor unfamiliar with such hostile contempt
lamely proffered it was not always possible to be a lifesaver
“you useless fucking bastard,” scorn screamed
“you didn’t have to save his life
you only had to keep him alive” – until the morning and an aircraft.