Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

Standing room only
insufficient chairs
the chairs found only in rooms like this
institutional, but trying not to be
non-break foam, steel legged, scratchy fabric skinned
natural habitat: staff rooms, seminars, conferences. 
Men study sheets of paper
rather not know chivalry looks away from women on feet
etiquette can wait –
the room carries the smell of money …. and tension
both able to dismiss etiquette.

“ Ladies and gentlemen
this is what you have been waiting for
I don’t need to tell you ……”
but he does
“unparalleled opportunity, seldom available, almost unique.”

“ So ladies and gentlemen
will someone start me – anyone don’t be shy
let’s be really silly and begin at 600
600 it is – thank you sir
620. . .640 . . 660 .. 680
700 at the back
720 ..740… 760…. 780…. ”

“NINE HUNDRED.”
Oxygen evacuates
silence moves in
“ 900 is the bid
900 going once
going twice
gooooiiinnng …sold to you sir, for $900,000.”

 

 

Newly found enchantment
ear bending
travel
art
nature
people
romance.

New romance: duopoly selfishness
1+ 1 = 2 : universal + unique = never before
or likely to be again
inventor : us.

Eager to speak of the other – always
others thought eager to listen – always.
Teenagers draw eye rolling and tolerance
middle aged second timers
wear excitement as fun house masks
ghoulish and artificial.

She was looking – we knew
had met somebody – we knew
was dating – we knew
and now
it
had happened
we were being told – brought into the know.
It,
was wonderful
amazing
exciting
spontaneous
constant
“you know what it’s like!”
“No,”
said the no choice listener and mother of 4
“ I have to wait for my kids to go to sleep.”

 

We had been friends for a long time –
early twenties, to late thirties,
from the formative years ….  to the settlement ones.
Travel,
mortages,
career precedence …. friendship survived,
until
decreased by girlfriendship
sidelined by courtship …… evicted by marriage.

Pride dusted itself down and looked around
much company – rejection is not personal –
a new Queen and a new court.
An almost decade passes,
memory becomes forgetful of when inclusion was.

The road is sombre. The destination serious.
Terminal illness. The final visit.
The last town before the hospice city –
Unnecessary coffee stalls facing the unfaceable.

images of past vigour align with platitudes of decline –
what to say?
It is time. Eyes not looking, cast the room and snag,
a familiar figure bent in conversation –
the friend lost to marriage.
He is surprised to see me. Too surprised.