S. K. Kelen19961996: watching the news on a TV at the airport (worse than the dark days of Febuary and libary)Even air changed, felt soggy, people spoke a new tongue, dropping r from words. On TV the newly-minted opposition leader said he was 'bought up' with values and the newsreader crossed to a live 'boadcast' of Pine Minister 'beefed' by his department.' The airport food tasted like tyre burnouts and everyone mumbled as if the letter r never existed, people were friendly but their eyes were harder than they had been. Things were bright-coloured, shiny with swagger the daytime sky was darker blue you sat still, the universe was shifting, speech abbeviated. Today, smiley emoji augur a new world, its decline begun when 'r' vanished from the tongue. Missive Dear ______, thank you, life is spinning out of control the cat tore the voodoo doll you sent to pieces — no fear of toys or superstition here! and then vicious emails arrived like stalkers started to get nasty. The private detective you had follow me came in handy and took care of (punched out) the roaring psycho haranguing the shoppers and school kids at the shopping centre after he screamed at me about my dog sitting with me at the cafe. The afternoon descended into action comedy but at sunset the red Belconnen sky was numinous and, full of hope, embraced the busy surface of the earth. Master of War Master Sun Tzu, say something before it is too late and you are punished for beheading two concubines favoured by Helu the King of Wu, as proof in practice of your theories. No wise saying. Hold the monarch with your stare, reading from your treatise will cleanse his mind and disperse his anger like a confused enemy. Shaken and sickened Helu is impressed nevertheless. Purity of purpose won you the job, the King of Wu will take up his ink and paper calm his soul sketching snow, leaf, a flight of cranes, red magnet spear, fish, dragon, cricket, tiger, a card is thrown and turned over: Sun Tzu the writer is a General. Two new favourite courtesans are anointed and lessons have been taught and learned. S. K. Kelen is an Australian poet who has been writing longer than he cares to remember. He lives in a city where the reserves and parklands are inhabited by kangaroos, wallaroos, echidnas and many kinds of beautiful parrots and other wonderful animals. His most recent books are A Happening in Hades (Waratah, NSW: Puncher & Wattmann 2020), and Love’s Philosophy (Summer Hill, NSW: Gazebo Books 2020)
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