michael oliver (13-4-1948 / swansea)

1 to be a maitre d'

leaning on the bar
with a wite shirt
with bored black eyes

walking to the window
walking with a limp
walking with a shrug

staring at the street
nothing is with passing
nothing is with daylight

past the diners returns
past the with coffees
past the with talk

resumes with his leaning
still white shirt with
those solitary black eyes


2 the clinical interior

- the clinical interior
the eating postures - the smooth fork
hold the subject - I remember you
You had two - yes he had
another had three - bits of tomato
the analysis continues -


3by a window

though together they seem apart
in cool grey in cool light
a silent prayer of distraced pose
and some finesse removed from acknowledgement
the cup cupped in feminine hands
nor speaking not looking but rapport
he stands she arranges their food
she then speaks he sitting listens