Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

Dark, petite and pretty – early 40s.
younger looking than passport age
intelligent – above average – but not too clever
adaptable and hard-working.

According to her own history
life had never been easy
an unhappy childhood and awkward education
adolescent confusion and intermittent marriage.
Problems were tall, time and money short
adversity a frequent companion.

People could choose she said
to be victim or survivor.
Each day a new act
in a long-running one-woman play.
Two roles. One star. A compelling performance
the audience appreciative and sympathetic.

Bold brushed posters
of water coloured truth
can disguise billboard fiction
perception shades inconsistency.
Two overseas trips in three years
stylish haircut, extensive house renovations
in private life, a sharp contemporary wardrobe.
Things couldn’t have been too bad.

The Prime Minister had special affection for the United Nations
suspicion couldn’t decide if her humanitarianism was sincere
or hedge against voter rejection
an IOU or two in New York useful in bad times
jobs for the boys. Or girls.

Timing in politics, as elsewhere, is everything
unwanted refugees allow centre stage magnanimity.
Take more? Yes we can.
Cameras and Secretary General take note.

He fled Cambodia
when it was Kampuchea
spent years in a camp in Thailand
a tailor trying to find work – anything
I was a volunteer on a resettlement programme
trying to find fulfilment – anything.

I am shown a thick file
rejection letters
jobs he could do easily and well
he thinks it is his language.

An epidemic swept the Western world In the ‘80s
every male between 20 and 47 affected a moustache
according to an acid tongued TV reviewer
Tom Selleck was the contagion – Magnum P.I the vector

At take-away stands
ticket windows
parent teacher nights
the population found itself talking to a moustache.
Everywhere
TV news, lecterns, cabs, moustaches spoke back.
Perhaps it was revenge for the 1970s
women couldn’t do everything after all.

It’s what I remember most about my first boss.
the moustache
it bristled every time he mentioned
any of his many prejudices.
I think Ron the most egalitarian person I met
he had a bad word for everyone.

Deeply conservative
he believed in God
the Queen
Communist’s were evil
and although twice divorced
had special reverence for marriage.

He greatly admired Reagan and Thatcher
their philosophy and economics
particularly economics.
More market, less government
the economy would be fine
if only the government would stay the hell out.
Private enterprise was decisive
effective and testicular – no pussies
that’s what he liked
“how it bloody well should be.”

It’s many years since I listened to his hacksaw virility
he retires at the end of this one
a civil servant for 44 years
not a single day in private enterprise.
He never went to the altar with his alter ego.