Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

Red faced
short breathed
30 pounds overweight – at least – probably 50.
I thought of my own physical,
BMI,
blood pressure,
ECG,
laboratory tests
and
probing finger ….
he couldn’t have passed the same medical examination.

The doctor said he didn’t, of that there was no doubt
he would have failed then
and
would fail now. “ So, how come?”

Antarctica in summer is winter in America,
for North Minnesota,
work imitates the seasons : fecund in spring and summer
barren in autumn
dormant in obese cold and wizened sun.

A man with two children and wife
well-paid job,
or unemployment?
Self esteem, or Food Stamps?

Vanishings,
what can be seen, and what can be signed away …
“ I take my physician’s hat off –
and put my social worker’s responsibility on.”

 

 

It was a competitive course
marked in the prospectus with an asterix.

* restricted entry

Many call – few get chosen –
postgraduate,
those who have done well. Very well.
The clever.
The entitled.
The swollen headed.
The supercilious.
All were some of the above,
some were all of the above.
The elite
Miss Jean Brodie’s crème de la crème
in the prime, of ego
early, very early, 20s.

Day 1
students meet staff. Staff meet students
clockwise introduction of self and interests –
five minutes, from now
coffee, and home.

Day 2
opening day of business
head of department, for one hour
of housekeeping and “ where to go for …..
    •   If murder has been committed: him
    •   if manslaughter: his secretary
    •   for everything else : Edward.”

 

“ Edward , is one of life’s gems
this department would not function without him
I don’t want any of you upsetting him in any way.”

Most had already joined the dots : gay –
then not yet accepted
derisible
and
risible,
easy and no limit prey. Game season is closed – indefinitely.

 

It was the age of Aquarius
women could and were doing anything
and to blame for nothing
that was men’s doing.
In this case each was partly to blame
she for leading,
me for following.
Melanie from tutorial group
attractive, intelligent, and according to the bush telegraph, single.
Did I want to go to the protest march with her?
Did I what!!!
Mobs –
like atoms –
orbits and nucleus,
common sense would have advised an early exit
self-preservation, before it was too late –
an 18-year-old has neither.

The police had had enough
were in no mood for kid gloves
GET IN THERE …..
At the station the processing officers were grim, severe
and pessimistic –
you’ve wasted police time and resources –
court tomorrow – with the strongest charge we can bring
We were all scared shitless
until the duty commander arrived and said,
“ you realise you’ve fucked up my afternoon nap.”