Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

His son said the policeman visited
unusual for such a high rank to house call
surprised – his father
as was the officer with the admission.
“Yes. I did. And do.”–
One room, two very surprised people.
“So, you know it’s illegal
oh yes
and continue to ….
yes.”

The policeman asked if he would now desist.
The son said he never admired his father more –
“ it’s not going to go away,
only increase,
they can come to my pharmacy and get a new syringe
and clean needles –
no questions asked,
the alternative is hepatitis .. and the rest.”
Nor did he ever admire a policeman more –
“ you’re absolutely right, but people are on my back.”
The son said
sometimes at night
a phone call and a muffled voice  “ tomorrow afternoon, 3.30 ”
siren, lights, a squad of uniforms ….

We acted on a complaint announced the district commander,
and found nothing.

Change was coming
had come according to the politicians
came as a result of their prescience and policies.
Gone was the old economy
gone with the Ark – gone to the archive.
Exploitable,
extractable,
emitting. And dumb.
Smart was the future.
Think smart. Act smart. Work smart.
The smart economy –
Technology. Consultancy. Tourism.

Tourism a leisure package: not holiday.
A smart new smart resort – the future.
Jet ski
water ski
heli ski
paddle ski
ski ski.
Alpine walk, bush walk, river walk.
Mountain bike, forest bike, trails bike.
Spa, standard star, luxury spa, pamper spa.

A colleague went …. one of the first,
we were all curious – what did she do?
“ do?
You mean after the compulsory shag.”

It was quick and clean
the lock didn’t suffer
neatly decapitated … lying on the ground
the chain dangling
still swirling gently –
the bike gone.

The security man was weary
not interested
took no details – only a phone number
promised nothing. He kept his promise.

The policeman was cheerful
took lots of details,
my phone number
and
gave me a number – “ for your insurance company.”

What did I think it was worth?
Mountain bikes grow old so quickly
about $250 I guessed
“they probably sold for $100 in a bar ”
$50 thought the policeman – “a tab of meth.”