Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

Everyone and everything was young
proprietors of youth
prospectors of the profound.
Rock stars in the ridiculed forties
screeched anarchy from conservative mansions.
Guitar heroes’ rift mythology
reverentially murmured and air plucked.
Amidst the ascending noise
a quiet soundtrack.

A folk singer with lyrics
of ordinary people and everyday hopes
endlessly played in a machine
now resting with the typewriter in antiquity.
One song became a favourite
a couple with intense dreams
dissociate temporarily
to travel single lanes of career
never to realign
except
a chance meeting with no magic. And no appointment.

“This will be us sad eyes tell me
for you the effort will be too great.”
No balm is applied to raw prediction.
Time corroborates her prophecy
distance distracts closeness.

The vicarious dark of middle age
early death
serious illness
brutal divorce
brings determination to remedy dispassion.
She says there is no need – friendship remains.
We both know this not to be true.

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An answer to prayers
20 hours per week. Walk-in walkout
wages all that will be taken home
afternoon hours can be used for writing.

Ash hair
three days too long
clothes – past fashionable – not yet amusing.
Snap Judgement : rumpled and kindly
confession feels at ease
aspirations are explained to attentive spectacles.

The pay rate would not cause envy
but reasons are understood and accessible.
Impression diffuses across the desk
if he were only younger…… or not so committed.

Interest has been great
five interviews
two more to see
a handshake and promise to be in contact.
Hope’s exhalation. Close…. but probably.

Disappointment.
Shit happens.
It’s just the way things sometimes are.

Later from a tangential tributary of the grapevine
vacancy wasn’t.
Counterfeit screen tests archive compliance
all positions must be advertised and contested.

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Lazy Saturday of a holiday weekend
the paper flicked, not read
attention prefers the ranch slider framed ocean.
A photograph and tribute to a recently deceased
a beloved small-town doctor.

Memory backflips 30 plus years
age and location joining the dots
genetics makes certain – phenotype petite and dark.
It is. It is her mother
the mother who sent money
money – so her pretty daughter wouldn’t hitchhike.

Cheerful assurances
thank maternal concern
praise generosity
and promise compliance.

Girl Guide’s honour
summer camping
partying and alcohol – lots
at beach resort hormone hot spots
and back to the deep South
by thumb.

 For the story behind a story click Backstage