Well, I meant, Pat choose the appropriate eyes to meet. Shy away from those above a set of clackers carrying a can of hard lolly water. Parts of St Kilda are rife with such but not so much near lush parkland and close to Toorak Road.
Bill
On 23/01/2013, at 10:41 PM, Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Is St Kilda posh? has it a funfair?? Shame about meeting no eyes (especially
> poets) not much of the George Orwell going out and tramping in the lower
> orders -still Oz is a pretty terrifying place Killer sharks -fires
> -didgeridoos etc
> P from memory
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Bill Wootton
> Sent: 23 January 2013 07:32
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Publicly transported snap
>
> Thanks, Andrew, Doug, Max. An authentic experience, I assure you. If the guy
> got biffo with bags, Andrew, he at least didn't get sliced. It was more that
> the whole episode played out in in about 500 metres, about three tram stops
> in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy actually. And the lack of denouement applied to
> us all on the Number 86 tram, one which you probably won't catch, Max, in
> leafy St Kilda. Meet no eyes is my advice.
>
> Cheers,
> Bill
>
> On 23/01/2013, at 10:20 AM, Andrew Burke wrote:
>
>> Wow, yes, liked the poem. I've travelleed similar scenes on Perth
>> metro trains. Always it seems to be out of control young women who
>> have so much aggression as an individual. Young men seem to do it as a
>> pack on the streets.
>>
>> Feels like it needs some tail-end narrative to me - Maybe what
>> happened to her two bags, or somesuch.
>>
>> Andrew
>>
>> On 23 January 2013 09:10, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> some experience all round!
>>> well told
>>> (we presume nothing invented by Bill) -
>>>
>>> my house move on 1 Feb is to a tram stop.
>>> I can then swap the perils of driving for the perils of public transport.
>>>
>>> Max
>>> (currently packing in Doncaster,
>>> moving to St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004)
>>>
>>> On 23/01/2013, at 7:08 AM, Bill Wootton wrote:
>>>
>>>> Publicly transported
>>>>
>>>> She swung on to the Smith Street tram with a can of Jack Daniels and
>>>> Coke clenched in her teeth; bulky bag in each hand, slouched to a
>>>> seat. Hot.
>>>>
>>>> Opposite her, a neat-collared man who was not about to accept this
>>>> affront sitting down, must have muttered his immediate disdain.
>>>>
>>>> The girl's blank smile snapped from her face and the main show
>>>> began. 'What's it to you, you old fuck?' voice gathering volume.
>>>>
>>>> No way out now, he must have given her, sotto voce, more grist to
>>>> work with. 'Hey!
>>>> Did you hear that?' she challenged us all.
>>>>
>>>> 'He said he was going to hit me. I'll have you charged, mate!' Her
>>>> right index finger arced down at him, left hand with clasped can
>>>> hovering,
>>>>
>>>> the effect like a bird of prey with wings lifting, prior to ascent.
>>>> 'You heard him,' she flashed round to the hapless tram driver,
>>>>
>>>> cringing in his closed cubicle, from where he had attempted
>>>> placatory words and gestures but had only upped the anger ante. Next
>>>> stop,
>>>>
>>>> an old lady hobbled on with walking stick.
>>>> Mister Jones loomed to his feet, offering his seat. Time for a
>>>> regenerative can slurp.
>>>>
>>>> 'Watch out for this fucker ... ah sorry lady, for language ... but
>>>> he threatened me.'
>>>> A distinct word now carries from Standing Man:
>>>>
>>>> 'Uncivilised.' A wispy-bearded young Malaysian opposite me hazards a
>>>> grin. I don't return it.
>>>> Other passengers shift sweatily in their seats.
>>>>
>>>> Her flick knife is out and up, blade waving under the man's nose
>>>> before anyone can react, even if they had the daring to do so.
>>>>
>>>> Collared Man stands on but understands now what he's bought into.
>>>> Edges off at the next stop. Victoria Parade. Away. But no -
>>>>
>>>> she's following him off. 'Ya bald, fat fuck!' Her skimpy top rises
>>>> as she clambers down, exposing a thin, sun-denied midriff, lightly
>>>> bruised. Bing!
>>>>
>>>> The tram shoves off, bound for Bourke Street and beyond. I turn but
>>>> already the two have been swallowed in milling Melbourne
>>>> pedestrians.
>>>>
>>>> Bill Wootton
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Andrew
>> http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
>> 'Undercover of Lightness'
>> http://walleahpress.com.au/recent-publications.html
>> 'Shikibu Shuffle'
>> http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/new-from-aboveground-p
>> ress-shikibu.html
>
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