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North

They explained it –
we’ll all live forever.
Two of ‘em talked at me
outside the supermarket.
Gil; and I forget
his wife’s name.

Migrants from England
in their early 70’s.
He’s had a hip replacement
some bowel removed.
She was tired –
sat down beside me.

They have a few kids
non-believers.
They call them ‘pagans’
I reckon I’d like ‘em.
They study the Hebrew
on my necklace.

Not dissuaded
he asks my address.
I tell him –
got nothin’ left to lose.
Eight days have passed
still, they haven’t come.

Maybe they died.


South

Mr. Executive
I see you
Shares
Advert
Sponsorship
I see you
Porsche
Yacht
Villa
I see you
Gold
Armani
Antique
I see you
Lobster
Cocktail
Cocaine
I see you
Bribe
Corrupt
Scam
I see you
Clean
Moral
White
I see you
First class
Limousine
Best seats
I see you
Lie
Deceive
Laugh

I see you


East

Adonai,
I can’t do it.
I am weary
confused
pissed off.

You expect
the world
for so long.
No David
can I be.

Round one
begins soon.
Privileged
opponents
snarl, they spit.

I raise my
Daniel flag
above the lair.
He tells me –
trust yourself.

I close my eyes
and thank you.


West

I watch a film
about this kid
having chemo.
I remember
so many
hospital beds.
Your pallor
blue beanie
weight loss.
The foot drop
transfusions
radiations.
Sneakin’ a cig
you in wheelchair
drip in tow.
The purply scars
all down your
crooked back.

And I remember
your 21st at
Jackie’s and my
rented home.
The marquis
we put up.
Buying the ice
the beer
the tucker.
Five of us
doin’ the Horah
to Havah Nagilah.
Dad and Mum under
the same roof.
The whiff of summer
at October’s end.
Your guests
your speech
your dignity.

I am at
my mother’s.
We talk.
Her eyes
glass up.
Her lips
quiver.
She weeps
for her
dead daughter
her
two dead sons.

I hold her
and wonder
where God was
all those
years.

I enjoyed this.
Thank you Boss.

You are most welcome, Gully!

Laugh

I laugh at you
and you at me.
I say everything is dead
you say we’re only sleeping.

Insurance companies milk you
banks and government policy.
But you don’t care.
You with your cheque book,
Mastercard, your local ATM.

And I tell you of the world
10,000 years ago.
No Buddha or Dylan,
Bible or car.

You tell me I’m a dreamer
a typical Piscean.
I laugh out loud.

And yesterday,
we kiss.

nice twist!
maybe things are looking up
"this side of fate"
or maybe it is just a poem
"the other side of fate;
either way
nice twist.

MatbbgJ

Thanks for the comment.
I don’t know much about fate, Mat.
What do you think about it?

Boss

Hi Boss,

I read once that "fate" is the interplay of past karma and present grace/free will.
(The implication inherent in this is that we incarnate many times)
I am partial to this packaging of existence. It allows for "hope".

By the way I drew the lines on "fate" from below your avatar.

Mat.

Ah, but you can clearly see above my location
the name "Boss", and I am surely not that.

Keep well, Jamesy

The most poignant piece of motion picture I ever saw was toward
the end of the film, “Gandhi”. The independence of India and Pakistan
had just been declared and there was trouble amongst the Hindus and
the Muslims. Gandhi went to a Muslim friend’s house in Calcutta and
vowed to fast until the fighting stopped.

A few nights later a Muslim man climbs the steps to Gandhi’s bedside.
He throws bread at him. “Eat. I’m going to hell, but not with your blood
on my hands. I killed a child, this high,” he shows the height with his
hand.
Gandhi thinks, “I know a way out of hell. Find a child, about this high,
a child orphaned by its parents. Raise the child as your own but be sure
of one thing; make sure it is a Hindu child and you bring him up as a
Hindu.”

The man falls at his feet, crying.

My favourite film, I’ve watched it many times, but I haven’t seen it for
a while; hence the dialogue may not be word for word.

Take care,
Boss

I wrote this poem18 years ago in mid-13,700,000,006 (1992).

A Normal Sort Of Day

Today was a normal sort of day –

the next door neighbours
bought a new stereo system
and were allowing the district
to judge for themselves

the kids streamed out of school
with that typical relieved
and expectant Friday grin

the dog chewed up my woman’s glasses
a lens lay scattered on the carpet

and I sat on the toilet
reading
and debating
Freud

Post 697