PASSING

The sudden disappearance,

the flames, then the desiccation

the evaporation

the fragmentation, the spicules, the dust

scattered at sea or more likely

at an intersection in the CBD.

 

That was where he worked:

each morning a cappuccino

from the same coffee stand

packed lunch – the coffee

the one luxury

he could afford.

 

He loved the sea

would have owned a yacht.

He’d take a bus from Kogarah

on the weekend to watch

the fleet sailing

near Middle Head.

 

Stutter and dyslexia kept him

in the most menial of jobs

in a large commercial corporation

no family no friends to speak of

and then a week after

we learned his dog had died 

he did not come in.