310W
On cue, the magpie pagoda



Mar 2007
Digital collage
114.5cm (45") x 63.5cm (25")

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I should have been a fireman
(Psychometrics said it was so)
_ _ _

This evening as I make my meal I will drink a toast to you.
Drink to your health, hope you are well, and that life's been good to you.

Most evenings I drink this toast.

Sometimes I even drink two.

And after eating up all my food,

I will drink another toast or two,

And should I end alcoholic,

And should I end alcoholic, I will blame it all,

And should I end alcoholic, I will blame it all, on you...
...What is all this activity for, what is it meant to do -
How does my liquid good intent
In any way benefit you?
No arcane mechanism connects
Butterfly with storm -
or you.
That dullard's excuse for 'reasoning'
Well, simply it will not do!

Perchance the spirit befuddles -
Perhaps reason slews, and loosens a screw,
That's as it may be...,
But this I know to be true;
The fridge grows emptier, lighter
As my waistband wanders askew -
And so if perchance the spirit febuddles
I will certainly perhaps blame it
all
on you!
_ _ _

Promethean conflagrations,
From crematorium to fireplace
Conflate with a douser's deluge -
and...
I should have been a fireman,
Psychometrics said it was so.

Had I been your fireman
I'd have fought your fires for you,
Doused every unwanted blaze,
Or kindled kindly flames
To end your winter chills -
Warming your heart, your cod roe
With my potent chilli sauce.
I ponder this as I make my meal, while drinking a toast to you.
I could have been, perhaps should have been,

Your fireman,

Making myself useful in kitchen
And who knows where,

Doing my fireman's duty;
Coddling your mushrooms,
Or quenching, oh over, and over again, quenching, quenching your burning bush!


...But then again,

Let neither of us forget,

I
Didn't light up your cookery book
Or thaw your frozen heart,
And your burning bush, well,
It never burned for me...

I never was your fireman -
Extinguishing infernos,
Broiling up your roast -

So now

All I can do

Is make this

Toast...





(Words - Aug, Sept, Oct, Dec 2018, Jan 2019, July 2021)