WHAT TO DO WITH Poem by Maud Vanhauwaert

What to do with the woman who suddenly
spread her arms. Did she want to hug me
or was she pointing in two directions _

What to do with the writer who hasn't
published his books because ‘as long as
the fruit's on the vine it won't rot' _

What to do with the man on the bridge. He
peers into the distance and says ‘tell me
about it' _

With the man who strung himself up with
a tie. Fitting and solemn. Respectful
of death _

With the raped girl and the people
who say ‘she's not even that pretty' _

The woman who exposes her rolls of fat
and says ‘look, these are my slums' _

The burnt motorbike and the sleepless child
who's suddenly reappeared in the living room _

What to do with the testicles of the tomcat
that is much calmer now _

What to do with the people with nothing to say
who have come to the party anyway _

What to do with the queasy child.
He really does feel very sick _

What to do with the woman who pops up behind
me and says ‘you know me from somewhere
and you get to say where' _