Happy

Hi folks. It's been a while. I just thought I should let you know that I am happy. The reason being? Well I could say unemployment/writing sabbatical but really it's probably more likely due to the frequency with which I am catching PT...hardly at all! My life is so much better. I'm driving. Yes using a car! I drive to the gym which is 5 minutes away. Drive to my sister's which is 5 mins away. It's bad for the environment but good for me.

Melbourne's public transport system sux.

You may not hear from me again for a while...I'll be back when I'm gainfully employed.

Alphabet Soup

I wanna swim in a bath of words
like alphabet soup
Dive down and gulp open with
pronouns and syntax abounding

I wanna pull and prod and tear and create
I wanna surround myself with beauty and mystique
and creativity

I want time and empty days
to fill up my life with
I wanna chuck in the towel that mops and wipes up
sweat and toil and boredom

I wanna be light on my feet
I want a smile to play across my lips
I want a secret that only I know
but others yearn for

I want the itch and burn and yes and no
and depressing inevitability of it all
to just go away, just go away

I wanna be a writer!

Flinders St 'Hot Shoe Shuffle'

You know what gives me the absolute shites? It's doing the Flinders St/Fed Square tram stop hot shoe shuffle.

Pretty much every morning I get to the tram stop, glance furtively up Flinders Street to see if there is a tram coming and what number the tram is, then stand in the appropriate spot on the platform to alight said tram.

If the number 1 is coming, followed by the 16 for example, I'll stand in the middle of the platform to get on the 16. And every other bugger on the platform will have the same idea. There will be gentle pushing, commuters shuffling in every direction, all dressed in Melbourne's winter blacks, each person in their own corporate travel pain.

But something always throws a spanner in the works. Maybe there is too many people and I can't get on the 16. Maybe the 1 is quicker, people board quickly, the light goes green, then the 16 comes and stops up the top of the platform instead, too far away for me to push my way to.

And who wants to push anyway? I try not too and I almost tell the bloke next to me to fuck off when he sidles up to me and tries to squeeze on the human cattle tram up St Kilda Road.

Sometimes it takes 10 mins to get on a tram, even though there are plenty coming and I move exasperated up and down the platform, cursing under my breath.

The least they could do is play some music for us. I would love to see a birds eye view of this scene. We must look like Fred Astaire ants doing the hot shoe shuffle.

Summer on the tram

Summer on the tram
Playing table tennis with the flies
from one commuter to another

Summer on the tram
Standing with legs wide
trying to ventilate your privates

Summer on the tram
The heavy pungent aroma of sweat
Both stale and fresh, cos no-one's showered
since the morning...if at all

Summer on the tram
Doesn't matter if it's air-conditioned
The air is still thick and hot
like a black man's...

Summer on the tram
Almost makes me miss Winter...almost.