Row Downstream Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Inspired & enthusiastic, face blushing in the
surge of adrenaline evoked by the dream of
peace in Israel and Palestine, I'm perspiring
while my head feels hot to the touch with heat
rising from my scalp - at least, so it seems -
and I turn around to find my hapless colleague
turned on her heater to defrost her frozen feet

I have to cool down and move a chair into the
opening between us, switch on my small air-
con, spray water in my face - gloating, this
is a perfect example of different people living
together in peace, solving problems caused
by our attempts to survive: she and I should
be ambassadors explaining to a wondering

World how to be unique, hot and cold - yet live
in peace without compromise, she has her heat
in the open-plan & I have freezing conditions in
the same place - & when noise levels increase
in decibels - I am saved by Bert Kaempfert and
Ivan Rebroff in earphones; Dalida when looking
into Palestine, I sing Havah Nagilah by myself

And when life becomes oppressive, Mozart Piano
Concerto No 21 Andante and Maria Callas as the
Queen of the Night singing it better than anyone
else, Bach's Ave Maria passionately till I wipe my
eyes furtively, the nostalgic Cent Mille Chansons
by Frida Boccara, Saint-Saëns Carnival; the Nut-
cracker for flashing inspiration - we have a true

Democracy as everyone listens to what they love
on earphones and snap! the job becomes a dream
in which we row downstream….