Purakau

Kaikoura is so far away
Almost as unattainable as the
Mystery that surrounds it
I've only got the legends to go by
Of sea monsters hunted by sea monsters
The customs for making bread
Involve the whole community, invoking
The gods, the law
The tapu
And consider this one: written down
There is life and there is birth
From Nothingness to Dawn

Copyright © Paul Maggi 2003

Caught

Yeah,
I was there
checking her out

She bent down in the
grocery store
sifting through
the canned goods
and I simply looking at
what's to be seen

God bless the man
who stacked the corn
so far back there

She had to bend all
the way down
in that tight denim
arching the small of her back
downward keeping her
legs
slightly bent, her
high heels threatening
her balance

When she pulled
herself out
and straightened her blouse
she looked around I
switched my gaze
quickly to avoid
being noticed, though I fear
the look on
my face gave me away

Our eyes met and
she smiled at me
then turned and walked
down towards the deli department
shaking it all
right at me

I know
she was
only
there
in the first place
just to see
who
else would
look

Copyright © Paul Maggi 2003

Slumber Party

Cuddled in soft flesh
My heat, her feet
In black tee-shirt sheets
I wake up early when
She lies beside me
Watching her sleep with her
Head turned my way
Eyes closed, but I can
Track their movement through a dream
She will wake soon and
There is breakfast to be made
Her favorite: French Toast
With hot syrup and melted
Butter on top

I am the first person
She sees today
Our first kiss is a left
Over from last night's meal
Though it doesn't come
In a foil package or cardboard
Top you have to take off
Carefully so the steam that
Condensed in the fridge drips
Off making the contents all soggy
She stands above me
Waiting for me to help her down
So the dishes will have to
Wait until we get out of bed again

The powdered sugar makes it
Sweeter and that makes me
A better cook than you
Might think I am
But my bedtime manners are
Just as crude as you wold expect
I cannot tolerate too many covers
And I can't keep my hands to
Myself when I really should
Know better than to tease her like that
Just the little things I have to
Work on, but if you want
To have a sleep over I'll
Cook you breakfast

Copyright © Paul Maggi 2003

Scrambled Eggs and Beer

I had scrambled eggs and beer
for dinner last night
with bacon on the side.
the clock read 10:17
paprika on the bacon
no tabasco tonight
open the fridge and get another brown bottle
look to see what else there is
butter, some salad
and maraschino cherries
I found an old jar of chocolate sauce
but that was from a different time.
now it's moldy and rancid
I still keep it on the door now
thick and clotted and cold
dried like old blood
it's no mere metaphor:
it belongs there.
that's why
I eat the bacon.

Copyright © Paul Maggi 2003

Convenience

There's a corner store I pass
On my way home everyday
Just a little shop to buy a paper
Or some cigarettes
Though I've seen groceries and produce
Through the window
But this particular place is
Right by a traffic light
On a busy intersection
And when you try to drive past
There's always someone who has
Turned right on red, pulling
Slowly into the lot
And as the left and right lanes merge
Right there in front of the store
Everybody has to wait for that
Customer and you usually get
Stuck behind someone you should
Have been able to pass.
And you're late getting home,
Spending too much time in the car
Waiting for somebody else.

Copyright © Paul Maggi 2003