The interior love poem
the deeper levels of the selfdates when the abandonment
of certain principles occurredThe role of courtesy—how to enter
a forest, how to touch
a master’s feet before lesson or performanceThe art of the drum. The art of eye-painting.
How to cut an arrow. Gestures between lovers.
The pattern of teeth marks on skin
drawn by a monk from memoryThe limits of betrayal. The five ways
a lover could mock an ex-loverThe skill in tentative messages
which included yes and no
but never the direct maybeNine finger and eye gestures
to signal key emotionsThe small boats of solitude
Lyrics that rose
from love
back into airnaked with guile
and praiseOur works and days
We knew how monsoons
(south-west, north-east)
would govern behaviourand when to discover
the knowledge of the deadhidden in clouds
in rivers, in unbroken rockAll this was burnt
or traded for power and wealth
from the eight compass points of vengeancefrom the two levels of envy
Doing the Work
Doing the Work
‘I think there should be a National Service of Hospitality. The best way to see the true face of humanity is to serve it a plate of chips.’
Camilla Grudova on bad-mannered customers.
Doing the Work
‘Anyone who has ever worked night shifts will understand the vertiginous feeling that comes with staring down the day from the wrong end.’
A.K. Blakemore on working nights.
Doing the Work
‘I was constantly reading job ads, trying to find my holy grail – a job I could stand to do, and someone foolish enough to hire me.’
Sandra Newman on learning how to play professional blackjack.
Doing the Work
‘I loved being a receptionist. What I loved about it was playing the part of being a receptionist.’
Emily Berry on being a temporary office worker.
Doing the Work
‘Every part of you would swell, including your eyeballs, and no matter how much water you drank, you were always dehydrated.’
Junot Díaz on working for a steel mill.
