Supermarket Displays

My blood tests said diabetes
so at diabetes classes
I learn to be diabetic in
a healthy kind of way.

The dietitian talked us
through her power point
presentation then took us
to the supermarket to see
food labels and content
around the aisles and shelves.

Inside the entry door we
immediately encountered the
mighty bargain display of
chocolate eggs and rabbits
surrounding us in towers.

“Get used to it,” said the
dietitian, “there’s another month
to go, of grand displays of
chocolate, tasty hot cross
buns.” These are diabetic
enemies, full of sugar, fats,
and starch – of which we
diabetics can consume so little.

Thus it has continued each time
I shop for food. Prominent
displays of popular foods of
fizzy drinks, pineapple centred
mallow puffs, instant coffee
sachets with milk and sugar
added …… on and on it goes.

I rarely bought much of these
but still the choice was mine.

Now I am excluded.


Previously posted April 2017.

Renegades

Renegades swirl, surge
in a never ending stream inside
me as fewer and fewer power cells
flow from the little power house
tucked in among the workshops
pump and bellows in side my torso.
These renegades invade the fuel
pumped through computer control
through all the busy factories of
my body, around my limbs and
outer extremities, congealing
its fuel lines, fine wiring, clogging
filters of my waste disposal system.

Everything in my body
struggles to hold them
at bay, to continue with
preprogrammed functions
………………………….
to hold back the monster
renegade flow …… diabetes.




Previously posted April 2017.

Genetic Bonus

In its best officialese
the guidelines booklet
says Asians, Indians,
and Pacific Islanders
are more susceptible
to the renegade diabetes.

Yet European white people
delete their genetic bonus
by filling themselves with
French fries, battered fish,
steak, sausages, salami, pies,
bacon, mashed potatoes, cheese,poetry diabetes
fried eggs, milk shakes, sweets
cakes, biscuits, fizzy drinks
white pasta, white rice, alcohol
……………………………………………………

and other forms of salt, sugar,
fats and refined starches in
all their sumptuous glory.

to the great advantage of
the renegade diabetes.


Previously posted April 2017.

Game of Genes

New age science in the
‘sixties and ‘seventies produced
research and discoveries to
kill bad microbes, treat
inherited illnesses so that
we can live into sprightly
old age for many years.

All very exciting to the
new generation born in
soaring birth rates after
WW II repeopling a
depleted world population.

Now the offspring born in
that mating flurry are in their
sixties and seventies well armed
for years to live the latest
research into healthy lifestyles.

Family genes waiting in the wings
have the last laugh as they appear
delivering congestive heart
struggles at 67, anorexia and
depression at 65, diabetes at 70
throughout the family tree.

The old age lottery has
spat out its marbles,
done its worst.


Previously posted April 2017.

Sunday Afternoon Outing

On a sunny Sunday afternoon
the family in their black coats
and white shirts power along
the cliff edges, past the headland
on to the harbour enjoying its
blue green waters, circling past
the harbour beaches, staring at
the people on the sand, in the water,
and in their cars passing the beaches.

As the family enjoy swimming
and diving in the sheltered harbour
more people come on to the sand,
more cars crawl along the roads.
As the family, still in black coats
and white shirts pause to stare
in between diving and splashing.
“There are even more of them
now,” they remark to each other.

“How wonderful to see the orcas
visiting and playing,” say the
people on the harbour beaches.


Previously posted April 2017.

Traffic Overhead

Planes and helicopters chatter
sporadically across out sky
all day in criss cross traffic
while our earthbound traffic
flows on below in our
busy daily business.

Booming helicopter rotors circle
our hospital roof along the road
ferrying in the sick and injured
from busy roads and farmlands
urgently rushing some to the
regional hospital down the coast.

Thrumming engines draw my eyes
up to planes soaring into the
clouds, to planes dipping slowly
in little steps down to the airport.

So much action up in the sky
in which I once joined, visiting
other regions, other countries.
Now I stay home, recalling my
travels over the years, so much
organisation, time in airports.

How did I do it all ? My
next mode of travel will be
on Scotty’s transporter ……
…… Beam me up Scotty !


Previously posted April 2017.

A Night Out

The black and white cat
had a rip in one ear when
he arrived for breakfast this
morning jumping down from
the back fence after a night
out, seemingly unconcerned
and intent on his meal.

During daytime he relaxes
in sunny patches on spare
beds and couches, or curled
up on a dining chair closely
watching his bowl in the laundry
with a clear view through the
kitchen as Mum cooks dinner.

He used to have a paws up
break in Dad’s office at nights
until he set off the burglar
alarm at 2 am giving Mum and
Dad a nasty fright until they saw
him emerge from his cat
door there – now that feline
access is locked at nights.

So after dark he crosses
the lawn, climbs the back
fence to meet neighbourhood
felines. Let’s hope they are not
rough and ready tonight.


Previously posted April 2017.

Picnic In The Park

Under tall spreading trees
Dad places bags to one side
spreads out two rugs. Mum
puts baby brother down with
relief. Turning one in ten days’
time, he’s a strapping lad.

Round the edges of the rugs
his grandparents and great aunts
seat themselves while his older
sisters cross the path, jump into
the broad shallow pool with all
the other lively children.

Meanwhile baby brother who
cried to Mum he was hungry
all the way from the car is
fed well, then given a rusk.

Now he gnaws at his rusk,
and sighs, watches the girls,
wishes he could join them yelling,
running, splashing, playing with
dad in the pool’s excitement.

At home he rolls from his back
to his front to his back, then
right across the living room floor.

Now he drops his rusk, rolls off
his bottom on to his knees,
steadies himself leaning forward
on his hands, rocks to and fro
to cheers from his family.

Won’t be long now ! he’ll soon
be moving along at top speed. !


Previously posted April 2017.

Father And Son

On Christmas Day after
the excitement of presents
Dad lies on the living room floor
on his side, head on hand as
baby brother leans backwards
and forwards rocking to and fro
on his chubby bottom against
Dad’s stomach, absorbed in his
new playskool toy with a
rolling barrel, levers to push.

He thumps on one lever, laughs
at its loud tinging noise, stares
in fascination as the barrel rolls
and rings, thumps the lever again,
murmurs excitedly to himself.

Dad watches as baby brother
plays, grinning broadly at this
intent little fellow, so engrossed
in his fabulous new toy.


Previously posted March 2017.