Green and Gold

Grün und Gold/Green and Gold 30 x 24 cm mixed media on canvas

MINISTER OF URBAN AFFAIRS

It can begin here in this weed-thickened

night. The light of a thousand lamps

bouncing off the canal. The grass is alive—

pungent, spicy—with cannabis and curry sausage.

A girl passes us, talking to herself, jogging

at a safe, conversational pace; another girl

stomps by in motorcycle boots, pale fierce little face

saying nothing, body language however expressing 

FUCK OFF & DIE. Further on is what passes for a theatre

in our district. But no, it’s a café, but no—if we honor

the patron’s preferred nomenclature—it’s a “bistro,”

and why not? Meanwhile I’d better “liaise” or “interface”

with a urinal cake “asap.” Funny, innit (as I stand here,

splashing away), how time of life can be measured

   by states of mind musically speaking.

And even funnier that no composer has ever

thought of that. Consider the stuttering oboe sonata (that 30ish experience

of fear and loathing in the workplace), the chuckle of a bassoon

( easy, resigned humor of late middle age), the squawk

of saxophones ( youthful depravity), and so on. Amazing

the thoughts that come to us through this doily filtered light.