March 2023 – Brinkinfield

I Guess Where You’re From

At the railway station, a few metres in front of a café, I held up a piece of cardboard torn from a box, upon which I had written in black ink marker-pen:

“I BET I CAN GUESS WHERE YOU’RE FROM WITHOUT HEARING YOU SPEAK“

Claude looked like he had time to kill, waiting for a train connection. I watched, as he sauntered towards me, looking thoughtful. All in one motion, placing his briefcase onto the ground, clasped between his ankles, he pointed at the sign with his index finger, then pointed to himself.

I looked at him for a few seconds, with a blank expression on my face. “Belgian.” I said, forming an innocent smile.

Claude jerked backwards, as if a fairytale ogre had appeared behind him and given the collar of his coat a sharp tug.

Dog-Speak

I once knew a woman
alas, no more

(I mean, alas no more do I know, her
Not ‘no more’ in the sense of her being dead)
(Although she may be, for all I know
But I very much hope not, obviously)

I once knew a woman
alas no more
Probably still very much alive

A seemingly sane woman
by most available
measurable psychiatric standards
pertaining to mental health

♀

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Fran, Windenberger and I

Fran pours a little positivity into my cup
With a letter (finally) replying to my own
Enclosed with her letter an exhibition guide

‘Des images en partage’
Exposition Photographique
Jacques Windenberger

It’s all written in French.
But is relatively easy enough to comprehend
Within the booklet, examples flow
Yet, in this age of image saturation
I like some lots, I like some less so

Because, everyone does this sort of thing now
Everyone takes all different photos imaginable
Who has style any more?
Who has a distinct style?

Not Windenberger
Not me
Not you, either

Old Actors

How did everyone get so old?
I can’t believe the Picard series three.
I kept wanting to yell at the fumbling Patrick Stewart to speak up!
I couldn’t hear him because his voice was so weak.

And what happened to Joaquin Phoenix?
How did he get so old all of a sudden?
Wasn’t he young, until recently?
Just how old is he?