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[tadorna]

Crossing the dual carriageway this afternoon
through the gap in the hedge,
sunflowers in wet cellophane
propped between the tight branches.
You can feel the cars as they pass,
their speed and mass.

A motorbike hit them.
She was in reception, she said
they just all went flying up in the air
all four of them
flying up in the air like skittles.
They never stood a chance.
She said oh,
oh it was the most awful thing
what I ever saw in my life, and
she leaned against the wall
with her hands over her mouth.
Next door they had to get a chair
for a woman. A girl was crying, someone said
we need another cup of tea
over here please.

When it happened, it sounded like
something coming loose, unmoored
like something going wrong.

Outside the corner shop
some kid has left his bike
blocking the doorway.
The newstand offers
prayers for tragic crash victim.

Comments

[blythely.livejournal.com]

Duckie, you rock. I love the mundane horror of this. It reminds me greatly of my mum's favourite poet (a big favourite of mine too), Sam Hunt, who is the great Kiwi Bard.

It reads outloud so well.

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweeting! I've not heard of your Kiwi Bard, but methinks some checking out is in order.