Some guys have all the luck
Other guys get what’s left over
after your mother spirits
you and your brother away
from the caravan in pre-dawn
leaving your shadowy father
to his amber bottle rituals
Some guys become many guys
each with separate names
back stories and different
share house postal addresses
awaiting the arrival of packages
from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam
Some risks beat other risks
like squirming on plane seats
with condoms of contraband
awaiting home disbursement
after unforeseen flight delays
Some bet big when their luck is in
Marry well enough, travel safe,
buy a fat house, land a fat job
learn guitar, have kids
Some lines you draw in sand
Don’t scab on your mates
Stay union strong
Conditions toughen
Get picked off
Phfft
Start again, accept
marching orders
Sell house, take skills
to China. Lingo up.
Hack it out
Remarry. Vasectomise
Ease down with amber and green
Keep a lid on it. Don’t even think
about how it might have been
bw
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