1
Scattered Tables
In the café, whilst he browsed the papers,
the young man on the table opposite
was solving the crossword.
The attractive woman to his left
was writing on pink papers to her absent lover.
The jaundice middle-aged man at the back
sighed and carried on reading a book.
about the diseases of the liver!
2
A Breakdown Beyond the Sand Dunes
He said, ‘It is not easy.’
In her goatshair home she cried,
‘I need you now.’
‘Next week.’ He coldly replied.
Tearful she begged, ‘I am desperate!’
‘But there are others.’ He retorted.
A sudden sweet memory inched into his mind.
He relented, ‘Maybe tomorrow.’
‘Wonderful. I can’t wait.’
At last, the repairman would come
to mend her washing machine.
3
Together At Last
Every spare minute he has
he spends either
in the garden or in the café.
Every spare minute she has
she spends in front of the tv.
She watches whatever is on.
Both seem happy
with their retirement.
A lifetime of being apart.
4
Football
A football match was in progress.
‘Who are they?’
I asked the chap next to me.
‘They are.’ He pointed to the grounds,
‘But who are they?’
‘The red team kicks the ball to the left,
the blue team kicks it to the right.’
‘Yes, but who are they.’ I asked.
‘Don’t know.’ He spoke.
‘I am waiting for my wife.’
5
Where Will I Wear My Ring
The young soldier
who lost both arms in the war,
was troubled,
‘What if I get engaged?’
He became obsessed by wristwatches
and golden rings.
On his wheelchair
Daily hr rushed to the jewellers’ shopwindows.
Tearful, he stared at what might have been.
6
The Instinctive Urge
Every day,
the kittenish virgin spied the young beau
passing her window.
Blushing crimson
she squeezed her pert nipples.
In her gossamer curtain folds,
she coquettishly veiled her face.
Flushing red
to obscure his throbbing excitement
into his pockets the admirer slid his hands.
7
Harassment
He was tall and handsome.
She was plain and easily overlooked.
He was brooding and powerful
And steely jawed.
She typed for him, filed for him.
And fantasised about him.
One day he took off her glasses
and held her close.
He told her she was beautiful.
She reported him for sexual harassment.
8
Unassuming
Her pair of wings
beat 500 times a second.
Her compound eyes
can see 100 separate images per second.
Her sense of smell
is extraordinary.
Her species existed millions of years
before the Homo Sapiens appeared.
Still, everywhere she prospers.
Who is this marvel of Nature?
The humble house fly.
9
Skill
The advert said,
‘Join the army and learn a trade.’
Nader did.
Quickly trained and packed off to the Yamen.
There he learned to kill fellow Arabs
and became proficient.
So carelessly he lost a foot and an arm to a landmine.
He had a profession.
But discovered employment hard to find.
10
Children
They worked hard,
went without
to give their kids the things they never had,
a good education and material comfort.
Their university educated son and daughter
laughed with embarrassment at their parents,
seldom visiting their impeccable humble home.
‘We have nothing in common.’
They explain to their smart rich friends.
11
Spooky
The last time I saw Mohamad alive,
I was filling a lottery card.
Smiling he said, ‘Try 11-16-10-40.’
I did not know then.
that Mohammad was foretelling
the exact date and time of his passing.
It was sixteenth November
Forty minutes past ten
That the lorry hit him,
His body was instantly strewed apart.
Maryam Ismail - 9 months ago
You have a few gems in this mix??