107

unexpected encounter at the Power Pavilion

for love of a fence

something strays

over, across

dregs of a party

into my edge

and bounded corner

they lack the volume

of last night

same creature though

I have to shake hands with it

and then it won't let go

it offers and offers

a feed of pork

then no?

so veggies

all the moments

are a story

why don't I know Toot

who lives on the hill?

28 years

why don't I know?

he's over the river

and past the Back Road

lot of dust between

some trees

a feed of pork is proffered again

we're still vegetarian

there's some problem

with a duck next door

and on the other side

the neighbours

I've also not met

methods of the Stasi I'm told

it's like that Jesus

whom all the world's books

couldn't contain

my hand's still shaken

I am compelled in friendship

or in enmity

there is no middle way

as the newt is pissed

still from the night before

it will smoke and go

it named itself

but bless forgetting

either side of the fence

it's all stolen land

then why won't I be the welcome to country?

forgive us all our trespasses

we make them up as we go along

I must be on my rounds

before I'm forced to have a beer

what's that book I'm reading?

I should have said the Bible

although I am mostly reluctant

these two demand to be

on my patch and in a poem

and so you meet them here