Only A Harp [rev.] Poem by Margaret Alice Second

While listening to light office banter and general
discussion I unwittingly turned my contribution
into a faux pas; the sweet pace of lightly misted
remarks ceased when I opened my mouth, my
colleagues discussing the new power station -
Medupi; how the engineer absconded, I asked
his name, was informed it’s irrelevant since the

work force had already called a general strike
enforced for six weeks; Let the Chinese build a
new power plant for us say I & the bright coterie
cynically retort, We’d have to fix their bad work;
ignoring our own ineptness since we’re worse
than they; following my own ideas I said: After
the Depression work was created by forming

road building teams; ice-cold silence - another
irrelevant remark; I apologise - quoting my son
terming my interjections “so random” & rolling
his eyes; continued silence - I don earphones,
fleeing with Mozart accompanied by my typing
fingers & the atmosphere discretely refined by
the Vienna Boys’ Choir singing “Stille Nacht”

accompanied by only a harp…