Clark Gormley #53 Paisley Drab

Paisley Drab
suited you
self-effacing
but with a bit of style

those voluminous
and hip texts were full
of probs, cozs, sozs
whenskis and emojis

a diviner’s talent
for cheap booze
beer specifically
gallery openings
bowls clubs and late nights
at that club on Watt St
a bizarre crowd
but you brought out
the best in them

there were odd habits
you honoured the beer
with a consistent
manically fervid
salutation
“Cheers! “Up ya clacker!”
and busked your own
versions of favourite
80s songs to
anonymous passersby
in Sydney’s CBD

but you detested
stereotypes
sensitive to minorities
a lot more than most of us
you seemed
most comfortable
in The Cross,
among
the gay crowd
who only mocked
themselves and
everything
was a laugh

deciding on a whim
to spend your 50th
in Europe
I just found out
you won’t be
returning
sorry you’re
now gonski
won’t see you
tomoz