Max Challenging last two lines Pppppppp
-----Original Message-----
From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Max Richards
Sent: 02 April 2014 10:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 'Getting Away'
Getting Away
Getting away is such an effort!
Clear the kitchen of perishables!
Did you water the plants? - enough?
Will Adelaide turn chilly? Need
our bags be locked? Should we tip
the cabby (slack with the luggage)?
I resent checking in with a machine.
The big bag is well below max. weight -
less than the Labradors weigh at the vet.
Now we have a whole hour before boarding.
The man at security asks Any hip or knee
replacements? I tell him Not yet.
My belt this time sets off no alarms.
Glad I wore the shoes with velcro fasteners.
Last security man waves his wand
over my shoulder bag and me - All good.
Adelaide? - lovely city - enjoy it.
Airport food is all overpriced.
Those other travellers are so big!
Hoping none's beside me on the plane.
Or those noisy kids running wild.
And the plane's so small - preferable.
Bye-bye Melbourne, Victoria's tawny
paddocks, dry creek beds, straight roads.
How will the Murray look? long, lonely,
jaundiced. Hills soon please - yes, and
vineyards knitted deeply green, intense.
The Adelaide cabby laughs: that's the new
medical centre - would look better in New York.
He likes old buildings, so do we.
Your room is on the nineteenth floor,
with a great view. Enjoy your stay.
After a short nap, let's stroll North Terrace -
old public buildings, in line
like lessons in civics, draw us along.
We've got away, this is our holiday.
Under Hindley Street's old pub verandas
electors of a 'hung' State Parliament,
tired, breathe deep from shared hookahs.
Pundits and pollies ponder on tv
perplexities of democracy.
|