Nodding Acquaintance

By Chris Picone, 2017

An old blue shirt marches across tiles that are worn but new.

Frustration: A carousel of silver posts that aren't,

and red doors that won't open.

Pink skirts with grey jumpers reside, and

a man from Sydney is in luck

though he could not tell you why.

Split seams are stitched with humour

while elsewhere they enflame.

Skateboards don't wait,

phone calls go nowhere,

and the saviour

won't be back in time.