Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

There was no training programme for supervisors
the work without skill
heavy, simple and monotonous
the best performed from the year before
promoted by productivity
showing what they had been shown.

Keep an eye on the people the boss said.
He also said this contract returned twenty percent
and to offer perspective
the industry typically spent 95 cents creating a dollar.
Keeping the customer satisfied unspoken
but heard loud and clear.

Her answer was so unexpected
she said she understood kitchens could be tense
that urgency and urging were often required.
But it was my tone
one she knew well –  from her six month marriage.
The tone came first
then the violence.

For the back story click Backstage

Who hasn’t
gritted teeth
or exhaled
hissing or sighing
“shit wouldn’t stick to him, her, them.”

We were all cock a hoop
hundreds apply
50 are selected
curiosity blends with self-congratulations.
What is sought?

The boss is absorbed by people
as card sharks by new tricks
warm
frank.
Happy to talk about the process.

“. . . . . . . and then
someone like Steven
transmitting such strong common sense
certain to be reliable
and not behave badly.”

12 months later
a new summer
another Antarctic season
I inherit Steven’s role at the airfield.
I need someone there I can trust says the boss
swelling pride accepted hurriedly.
Day one
the charge petty officer coiled
lessons learned tough
a sophomore who will not
“have any of that crap of that guy from last year.”

The boss has made a field trip to the airfield
in response to his question
I tell him it hasn’t been easy
that a taste lingers from my predecessor
of laziness
of sloppiness
of brazenness
of couldn’t give a fuckness.

A wide grin breaks to hearty chuckle
“ oh Steven….. he knew it was his last season.”

For the back story click Backstage

Inevitably there were more applications than vacancies.
Winter over in Antarctica
a rare experience
destination dropping travel boast
auroras, 24-hour darkness, extreme weather
and serious money.

The money
out loud most found it necessary to pretend
unwilling to appear vulgar
pausing, as if not previously contemplated
manufacturing hesitant, just thought of possibility.
the wages welcome of course
but only part of the motivation.
A big porky
everybody knew it
everybody repeated it.

Six is not divisible by 30.
Despair
disappointment
disillusionment
all widespread.
Nigel was a great choice
said those not disaffected by rejection
a practical joker who would keep spirits high.

Rationing is not always bad
a friend who paid for university
working in an upmarket department store
could never listen to Christmas carols
saying what was once uplifting
saturated to irritating . . . . then murderous.

The chilled voice
brutal ally to heat of eyes
said by the end
he’d had enough of Nigel and his silly pranks
said he understood how people expelled reason
and why they came to kill.

For the back story click Backstage