THERE’LL BE SOME CHANGES

It’s interesting
how stupid others are. We don’t
know them, we only talk to them
from some distant place.
They’re pretty anonymous,

like waves
that wash up on shore.
We follow the road
up the coast in the late afternoon
in plain view of a golden sun. The people
in the back seat
take a light nap, fall in and out of
consciousness and pick up
a bit of the conversation of the people
in the front seat.

Some day you’ll walk away
from the desk and not wonder
what is going on inside the other person’s head.

(16 May 2006)

RESETTING THE CLOCK

The lavender jacaranda petals
fall in slow motion, like snowflakes, onto
the hedges and tile paths. Night
fallen on the city, the violet sky, residue of
the day. With reverence
and in silence you circle round
the holy precincts.

This is as close to a fairytale
that we will ever come.
Outside the gate, darkness
is everywhere.

(16 May 2006)

CONVERSATION WITH A PROFESSOR

You have many talents,
my friend. Many good qualities
and characteristics. Work on
your modesty. It’s not very
convincing. And really,
that’s a big part of
the presentation, isn’t it?

(16 May 2006)