Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

We never knew his surname
he was just Con.
He’d retired here by the sea
built his own home.
We found him when he opened it to us
a sporting event in a town with not enough beds
civic pride asked residents to assist
he answered the plea – he was like that.

“There are no strangers, only friends we haven’t met”
so the cliché says
on coasters
on fridge magnets
on posters – to eyes that know better
but in the surf echoing lounge of our meeting
it just was.
There was warmth.
and shyness
a shyness that never went away
the shy of people finding magic
knowing to disturb or classify is to vaporize.
After the first time
we stayed with him every year.

Oceanfront bar
doors bifold to the horizon.
Sunday, warm and blue
the blue of Monet or Van Gogh
sky and sea of arms flung exultance
a day beyond mutation
bliss, memory could never edit
perfection unalterable by circumstance.

Glasses raised in the beer sparkling sunshine
a coastal freighter freeze frames into harbour
bar patrons denounce and cheer satellite sport.

Amid updating the year past
and plan swapping of the one to be
we asked about his shoulder.
He said it had responded to massage and therapy
had talked to the surgeon
and decided to wait – “ give it a bit more time.”
He died three months later – bone cancer.

A good-natured refrain or snarled taunt
“put your money where your mouth is”
Dental appointments are just that
or rather
putting your mouth where the money is.

I found them by accident – toothache
an urgent need for a dentist
I asked around for a recommendation
word of mouth I guess.

They were professional and private couple
he the surgeon, she the chair side assistant
a warm almost comic duo
who made dental visits fun
treatment painless and cost anaesthetised.

Competent no doubt
judgement trusted without question
a cheerful hard-working professional
able to solve that elusive quadratic – speed and quality
Formula One pace. A jeweller’s precision.

Elective surgery
friendly fire
particles of tissue swim north
confused missiles hone on an unsuspecting target.
Embolism. Oxygen deprivation. Stroke.

He was off work a long time
his peers judged him competent to return
where fingers once waltzed, they shuffled
machine-gun wit slowed to small bore volley
sometimes jamming with word loss.

Awkward loyalty made abandonment difficult
it seemed too harsh – callous.
Pre-fluoride teeth
nothing left to be filled.
Annual visit only – if luck holds
x-rays plus scrape plus payment.
“See you in a year,” his cheerful signing off
“look forward to it,” the reflexive reply.

I kept hoping he would retire
that there wouldn’t be a next time.

Application 1
Key attributes sought: reliable and hard-working
capable of thinking quickly and adapting to change
able to meet tight deadlines.
The closing date is 31 October
the letter arrives, February at its head
thank you
unfortunately…
Best wishes for the festive season.

Application 2
The successful candidate will be the interface
between our organisation and the public.
Essential qualities include attention to detail
and ability to create favourable impression.
The signature to the advertisement
takes prospective employees on a tour
a man of indeterminate age and philosophy
chummy and talkative
he stands comfortably too close
the breath packaging his words, sour and curdled.

Application 3
A fast paced workplace
requires a team player
to oversee nine teaching laboratories
frequently operating simultaneously.
Good timekeeping imperative.
The interview begins 25 minutes late.
No apology or explanation is offered.

Application 4
We seek
a motivated conscientious self-starter
to develop and manage professional
and empathetic relationships with customers.
Implementation of industry best standards.
Compliance with all agreed quality standards.
Documents are returned
imprinted with coffee cup halo.