5
Party Manners
By Catharine Bramkamp
Don’t predict the weather
I know the forecast
Explain instead
Heart chakras and dogs
Don’t pontificate on politics
I won’t change my mind
Neither will you
Lecture instead:
The secret life of birds;
Passionate insects; kings
Don’t discuss divorce
We know both the tune & lyrics
His secretary, her personal trainer
Instead sing that song you wrote
Voice the just published poem
describe the plot of your unwritten novel
Skip the children
So many are successful it no longer
Bears much repeating
Tell me about novels and plays
concerts and ballets
The weird Broadway show I don’t understand
Refrain from employment laments
It will not improve until you leave
Advise me on what to wear to the Fringe Festival
The right shoes to climb exotic dunes and camels
Show me your scars from the tropics