Bonnets overlapping; Introducing myself by DS Maolalai

Bonnets overlapping

ambulances standing

as centres of traffic’s mandala:

pins pulling pinheads

and seams along fabric to place.

the blue balling core; the tack

and the pursing together.

a cluster in clothing:

life’s flow as it happens

around. people in the way

getting out of it. making space for others.

and bonnets overlapping

and scaling toward the pavement,

a pattern, but only from

above, like petals

around flowers

bursting out

toward a point. and ahead

the real drama –

something happened,

someone hurt.

but here: it's only people

making space for

other people. movement

causing movement

on its way out

of its way.

Introducing myself

done reading poetry.

drinking beers,

shaking hands

with a stranger

and killing mystique

like a chicken

for dinner – not

making eye-

contact, fucking

up sentences.

forgetting to introduce people.

talking myself down.

my sentences

run to mumble

as I preen

like a plucked peacock,

so worried

about showing off

my wits.