Seeing my colleague Annette suffering I lose all
self-control (a wonderful thing, bang a blue sun-
screen over an icy air-con with books to weigh it
down; Stop, she warns me, Hermien dislikes it
when its blue dust sifts over their books
Busybody-me ignores her & Valkyrian Hermien
walks in, ice-cold stare at offending sunscreen;
Annette softly apologises, trying not to offend
me, the real culprit: It was Marilese, I tried to
stop her but she wouldn’t listen to me, she
Was so solicitous - voice trailing off; a reply with
great self-control - Yes, it’s cold - a long silence,
then a military voice saying - It’s warm enough,
remove the sunscreen immediately - I comply,
recognising a storm in the coming, while
Admiring her cold self-control and flying away to
tell a confidante of my disrupting Hermien’s well-
ordered life just by feeling sorry for a colleague
and trying to help - the most unwelcome thing
among self-assured, self-reliant officials
I need self-control watching others enjoying
their fate with masochistic delight; not offend
by offering unsolicited help…
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Good morning Margaret, I enjoyed your poem. One of my latest pieces could have used your title, which I like. Mine is titled, I'll Put Some Coffee On Thanks, Loyd