For Jodie at Telstra

[Boss]

For so long a time
I detested big business
I’d drive past Sanyo or Holden
or… you get the picture
They were the world’s evil
I still feel this, they are

But a funny thing happened
to me last week
My mobile phone broke
I was frantic
“Oh no, my free calls between 7 & 8!!”
My niece and I ventured
into some unknown suburb
down the freeway a little way
We walked in to a Telstra shop
There it was, so removed from a tree
an oasis
a supernova.
We stood at a counter
We waited

From behind us
a voice asked,
“Are you being served”
We turned
“No, were not”
I looked at her
and took stock
Like it sometimes happens in Life
I immediately knew
You can tell by the eyes, you know
genuine, warm,
The diamond ring
Ah, no flirtation
Relief

As this lady explained
the intricacies of which
phone would be best
it gradually occurred to me
how beautiful she really was
under the veneer she puts on
once the alarm goes off at 6.30
in the morning

In her
I saw all the pain that Woman has known
I saw a girl on a swing
I saw someone else’s lover
I saw kindness

And as she fumbled and stumbled
as all of us do
I knew the frailty
the uncertainty
we all face
in this Cosmic drama
The one in which we all wonder
of its author,
whether he intercedes
in each broken life
Whether his specialty
is the union
of a man and a woman
the laughter of a child
Seaweed.

Today I had problems
with my internet connection
Jodie was the one
We re-ventured down the freeway
through the industrial scene
I asked for her personally
Same eyes
Smile
Connection

This lady has single-handedly
made me reassess the structure
and function of Humanity
She’s renewed my faith
I’m growing
I’m learning to re-love myself
Thank you Jodie
for just being you
for showing me the real you
without you even knowing

As for the CEO of Telstra
The day is coming
When Jodies will
rule this world

[mickey_one]

original perfectly reasonable comment removed to save Boss from distress, and forum from an outbreak of the same old "issues".

[Boss]

I'm insecure... poor ol' me

[mickey_one]

Did you invent the word "poem" smart-arse. What's a poem? Little Michael is going to announce to the world what a poem is. For fuck's sake, a poem is a tree, a poem is a chair, a poem is a naked woman, Leonard Cohen is a poem. 2 year olds make up poems, so do 102 year olds. Poetry is not confined to a box with rules and conditions. Poetry is not only for those who understand Omar Khayyam. Poetry is for children, it is for tradespeople, it is for lovers. Critics are dead. Open the world to poetry, the unsung power behind literature. Open it to those who cannot spell. Whistle poems in the toilet, construct them from willow trees. Don't put your shit on me 'cos you had a bad sleep. Critic 2 grow up mate.

And this poem will be read by the aforementioned Jodie so I think you owe her an apology you little turd.

HI Boss, I don't think I have spoken to you before. I didn't know your sensitivities and your insecurity. I have no problem removing my last post.

[Boss]

We have spoken Critic2
The 'issues' will continue ad infinitum
I apologise for the anger but I'll forget my perfect offering
This conversation is terminated

I am sorry Jodie

[Manna]

Hi Adam, I'm going to do a Jimmy on you, ha ha.


It's Not a Poem

Did you invent the word, smart-arse?
The critic announces to the world
what poetry isn't, for fuck's sake.

A poem is a tree, a poem is a chair,
it's naked woman, my man is a poem,
and 2 year olds make them up.
Poetry is only for those who understand Omar Khayyam!
Poetry is for children, for tradespeople,
for lovers, for fuck's sake. Critics are dead.

open poetry to those who can't spell
whistle poems into the toilet
construct them from willow trees
and Super Glue.

[Boss]

Beautiful, fucken' beautiful
How many people give a fuck about Omar Khayyam?
There ain't no entertainment,
and the critics are severe!

But you wouldn't know about that
wrapped in your fancy diploma
your mundane middle class life
your cutesy banter

Go play ball with little Mick
you're on the same pitch
ask him if my poem has rhyme
meter and pitch

Kick him the ball
then disect its flight
measure its velocity
check its pressure

Then kick again
disect its flight
measure its velocity
check its pressure

Then kick again
disect its flight
measure its velocity
check its pressure

Who scored the goal?

[mickey_one]

We have spoken Critic2
The 'issues' will continue ad infinitum
I apologise for the anger but I'll forget my perfect offering
This conversation is terminated

I am sorry Jodie

I expect that Jodie will forgive you, for both the poem and the loss of control. I am sure they will reassure her that you are not the perfect person she had thought you but human instead, which is much more fun.

I also forgive you for everything you have ever said to me in conversations, none of which I can remember.

regards

michael (currently sitting on a blue suede office tree)

ps I tremble with fear for asking this genuine question...but your pic. is that actually you or Topol? It will probably turn out that you are a 17 year old girl and that I should somehow know that but if that is you, then you are a ringer for Topol (a very handsome man in my opinion).

[Manna]

Why are you so bent on knocking a guy who was a general hedonist? I don't know if I give a darn for him, but I mostly enjoyed what little I read of his.

[mickey_one]

Why are you so bent on knocking a guy who was a general hedonist? I don't know if I give a darn for him, but I mostly enjoyed what little I read of his.

your post- to whom? about whom? now hurry up and kick me the ball.

michael

giving me headonist, on the unmade bedonist, whilst Boss lies asleep in the street

[Manna]

But you wouldn't know about that
wrapped in your fancy diploma
your mundane middle class life
your cutesy banter

Is that there for the sake of that poem, or are you talking to me? Is that how you talk to me? How dare you suggest that my life is mundane? What do you know about me? How do you think you know what I know about? It's offensive, Adam.

Do I look down on you for not having a "fancy diploma?" Do you think you can look down on me for having one? You think it came easy? That it had no struggles? Do you think getting a diploma involves very little judgment along the way? You think college profs are gentle non-critics? You think I've never failed? Think I've never taken a beating? You think my belly's always been fed, and that my worst trouble ever was beach sand in my eyes? Listen, man, no man's suffering is greater than any other's.

And on a lighter note, my boss just brought me a box that was shipped to the lab this morning. It had a "toxic" sticker on - a white diamond with various symbols. And there was a hole kicked in the box, right in the middle of the "toxic" sticker. He said, "Hey! Way to be safe with the really nasty stuff!" I thought that was a nice parable for what I just said to you here. ha ha.

[Manna]

It was to Boss re: his treatment of Khayyam.

[lizzytysh]

And, though I could be wrong, I believe Boss's verse was directed at mickey_one.


~ Lizzy

[lazariuk]

HI Boss, I don't think I have spoken to you before. I didn't know your sensitivities and your insecurity. I have no problem removing my last post.

I guess that if you would have known about it before you would have pointed it out before.

[mickey_one]

HI Boss, I don't think I have spoken to you before. I didn't know your sensitivities and your insecurity. I have no problem removing my last post.

I guess that if you would have known about it before you would have pointed it out before.

Hi stirrer, you don't change.