MICHELE AMAS
Orphans
We are losing our parents,
3 mothers of friends
this month, like a middle-age
3 mothers of friends
this month, like a middle-age
phase we’re going through.
The aunts and uncles
too, my name I see
The aunts and uncles
too, my name I see
beside the telephone
of one,
I’m down as next of kin
of one,
I’m down as next of kin
beside the lawyer
Mr Dick Crush,
I don’t know
Mr Dick Crush,
I don’t know
which is more ridiculous.
Under the blankets
I calculate the cost
Under the blankets
I calculate the cost
of death and travel.
You are in the wardrobe
trying to trap
You are in the wardrobe
trying to trap
a mouse with your shoes.
It’s hopeless I say
where are the adults
It’s hopeless I say
where are the adults
when you need them.
I’m still standing on the beach
in my togs and bermuda shorts
I’m still standing on the beach
in my togs and bermuda shorts
waiting for the parents
to find
a park
to find
a park
Listen to Michele Amas read ‘Orphans‘
This is about you – isn’t it?
Your wrist is wrapped in pearls,
I wanted you to be married
I misheard that you were.
I wanted you to be married
I misheard that you were.
Misheard too, that your grandfather
carved an ice boat.
I made up the science
of how it would float,
carved an ice boat.
I made up the science
of how it would float,
imagined the refrigerated warehouse
where he’d work
wearing ski gear
in the evenings.
where he’d work
wearing ski gear
in the evenings.
I wanted to know how
you walk uphill
in those heels,
you walk uphill
in those heels,
to know how you hang up
your clothes,
the angles and geometry.
your clothes,
the angles and geometry.
I imagined you laying
them out flat,
fitting them together
like a jigsaw on velvet.
them out flat,
fitting them together
like a jigsaw on velvet.
Your husband would remind you
how to put them back on
in the morning.
how to put them back on
in the morning.
He’d build things for you
like lakes
for your swans.
like lakes
for your swans.
I wanted you to be married
so that I could be married –
I guess it’s as simple as that.
so that I could be married –
I guess it’s as simple as that.
Listen to Michele Amas read ‘This is about you – isn’t it?’
Positions
I watch the man
outside the crèche,
see his back twist
in that lumbar turn
it takes to get a child
into a car seat,
the angle and pull
to reach the seatbelt across.
outside the crèche,
see his back twist
in that lumbar turn
it takes to get a child
into a car seat,
the angle and pull
to reach the seatbelt across.
The faces so close,
each inhaling the other
action and breath;
one secure
one securing.
each inhaling the other
action and breath;
one secure
one securing.
There are positions
the body remembers.
the body remembers.
How many times
did I stretch that way?
did I stretch that way?
What was I thinking
when my arms
were always busy,
my spine strong
enough for two.
when my arms
were always busy,
my spine strong
enough for two.
Listen to Michele Amas read ‘Positions‘
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michele Amas is an actor and director who is also winner of the 2005 Adam Foundation Prize, which goes to the top folio of work by an MA (Page) student at the IIML each year. She apologises to anyone who unwittingly finds themselves in her journal.