The McFlurry's Revenge at the Corner of Jan Smuts and HF Verwoerd

Because I do not attend to carrots
or spatulas and frying eggs
to opening post, polishing shoes,
the community of the neglected
gains disenfranchised ground
waits in silent discontent
unacknowledged by the important clock.

Because I forget to phone a friend
prepared too hastily
for an ill-timed proposal,
I skate through meetings
with too little information
researched too late
forgotten too quickly
and lose my precious fountain pen
my father's gift.

Because I sleep too little
drive too far, hijacked
by institutionalised agendas
neglect to smile - or breathe
or record my dreams,
the sticky spoon
in the McFlurry
gets my better attention
when I should be slowing
for a stationary vehicle
waiting to turn.