Five Short Irritation Poems (Long Distance)

1.
On the ferry
or a plane, a train
an automobile—

What I don't like
is this waiting business!
For something to start

moving; moving me
closer to you. Near
or away. Or further apart.

2.
Well, looking around
it's not so bad
it's all right here in its way

I wrote six letters today
and sent five.
A phone call from a car.

These days, it sometimes seems,
no one we know
is where we are.

– 72 –

3.
It's shocking today.
Our jaws lock back
against the wind.

My hat is wet—
your jeans cling
unpleasantly to your thighs.

Hate! I snarl. You snap.
Blame it on the grey
day, the black skies.

4.
If it was someone's,
a person's, birthday—just say,
if it was—

Do you think
a parcel? a letter
or a phone call maybe?

Hey, here's a blindfold.
Here's a pin.
Here's the fucking donkey.

– 73 –

5.
Hi! we're picking
macadamia nuts and
eating Bluff oysters.

Yes more wine please.
Sorry, I was talking
to someone else. Who?

What's that? the line
is fizzing. Oh it's marvellous really,
here without you.