The Gallery Owner
He had been to the doctors
nothing could be done, they are
not magicians and he had
a painting exhibition at his
gallery tonight.
Sat in his chair leaning left,
less pain that way, some thought
he had had too much to drink.
In the night he was saved
from further agony,
a sudden heart attack.
Many people came to his
funereal, a lyrical lady singer
sang about love and loss;
there were tears;
…and then the silence began.
Assertiveness
It is very hot I have switched off the air-condition and
opened up windows, it is supposed to be hot in July.
I hadn’t wanted to buy air- cooling in the first place,
I’m too placid and get swayed to do the wrong things.
I sit on the terrace on the terrace, in a plastic chair
that is easy to move around I used to have had a chair
of real wood before I liked more, but it was given to
someone poor; I think about it and get upset I ought
to put my foot down and say: No. Summers past I sat
in my heavy timber chair and smoked my cigarettes,
the burn kept mosquitoes away, now it is frown upon
and I dastardly I quit, but I do have a packet of fags in
the drawers; maybe one day, if I get pissed off enough
by the virtuous, I’ll lit up and enjoy my august nights.