The Churn & Burn Communications Office ~ a poem in Cerasus
(Published in the inaugural edition of Cerasus Magazine Feb 2024)
40 urgent telegrams in white windows –
please find / please advise / please pick-up…meaning now / mid-morning-afternoon / EOP –
Smaller broadcast crisis / voice-shaped / about client needs – wants-desires / begin falling off the edge of note-book-
pushed to a wireless call / trapezius muscles hunching grey-matter / bleeping fatigue –
answer the telephone / you’re on it / bear with me-many apologies-two-secs / I’ll continue at home -until 9pm / anytime-do you have any info? Promise…
Voice message creeps back-3pm-before the day’s shares text – at 5.30pm / barking like a dog near pylons / Girls-jealous-daring you to leave before / time, / it’s resolved /eyes buffering –
Say – I have to be in central by 6.30pm-meet an old friend- take The Underground/ my Mum / The Church bells toll in Little Town / beyond registered offices-at home /
You are guilty / Voice crisis spreads smoke-signals towards 5.45pm / Meanwhile /
highest priority document / stacked front four / due and no one has mentioned / Quietly / move – device-coat-bag-lunch-pack-laptop-slung-lifted-stuffed /
Girls watching / Hating authority-your requests-four walls-you-money-education-background-shirt-relationships with men-family /
Questions rise hoping to catch out / You utter caring less.
London 7pm / darkened /lamp-lit for home time / coats smarter – Canon St / hair better – South Kensington / Canary Wharf – lost in search of DLR connection/ quick health food /
Everyone alights-the same stop /you are travelling to anomaly postcode in / try-hard attire and scent / all rent-lunch-no respite abroad /
stressed skin-bi-monthly blow-dry / food disorganised / laundry-full and wet waiting to empty /carpet afire with online post-snacks-laundry /
Zoom with Mother and Father who stare at words / not knowing how to help /
Your broken dream–about universities you didn’t go to-the boy you didn’t date / who loves you then fades-in one inhalation / you fear loss-a dust-truck reverses/ outside / 6.30am…
get-up.
