Descendents
A knot of nephews,
halyard of husbands,
of cousins, rope of relations,
Tall poppies
Be wary when planting
poppies. We are an
island nation
How can we ask the wind
to fill our regatta sails
and then
complain,
when tall poppies are
knocked down
Slightly off colour
She thought we’d purchased the house
from people of colour. Was surprised
I’d claimed the walls were
my own work
You know, she said, for this area, it is
very different. Not what one would
expect, it has rather a
Pacific flavour
Her words echoed in the hallway as
Tama emerged from our bedroom.
Don’t mind me, he said, I’m home sick,
slightly off colour
Pulling the plug
for Marg
She no longer feels confident in the bath
You hear of people getting stuck, she says
This morning with planning and precision,
courage and care, she takes the plunge
She allows the water to take her weight,
watches her toes bob up like white horses
Adrift she remembers, childish delight
when skin turned prune-like
The leaping, squealing, shivering, before
snuggling into the towel’s hug
Squirming as Mother rubbed hair dry and
tickled between toes
Sighing she looks at her body, her skin
now constantly bathed in wrinkles
There will be no leaping today. A decision,
to pull the plug before or after
disembarking. With slips in mind it’s a matter
of ensuring the softest landing
but then, there’s the possibility of drowning
She lies there, watches the water
draining away. All hands on deck she murmurs
as she negotiates her emergence
Reaching for the phone she calls me. You’re
off duty bosun, I’m safely ashore
Hospitals and helicopters
i.m. Pat Lawton
Rotors indicate an incoming helicopter,
the air conditioning is silenced.
Fumes and dust
suctioned through vents, are not
required on the wards
below
We deliver helicopters from their
autumnal landing pad, London St.
They spiral onto her bed
for our amusement. She is unaware
Humour is carefully balanced
against the pain
She has surrendered sentences,
enlisted essential words; drink,
yes, no
Raspberry cordial sucked from
a sponge colours her tongue.
She is dry, hot, and beside
herself. We encircle her bed with
love, it is not enough. We stay
until the darkness falls
