#120 Kevin Brophy 'New lessons'

#120 ‘New lessons’

She reminds us Aboriginal people had no beasts of burden,

so they left nearly everything behind.

At camp, what was on the ground belonged to everybody.

Personal belongings hung in a nearby tree.

We imagine toothbrush, diary, phone, handkerchief and comb.

She tells us the rich are only interested in who you know

the middle class are only interested in what you do

and the poor are only interested in knowing whether you’re a friend

and if you’re not then there is music to turn to.

We learn the rich eat beautiful food

the middle class eat healthy food

and the poor eat only what is filling.

Poetry goes by many names. Its shadow

lies below the shining days of the truly wealthy

its promise is an irritation to the middle class

and its indulgence is an insult to the poor.