Ministry Of Waiting – Neil Elder

Ministry Of Waiting

Of course there are no clocks, or windows,
that might allow guests to track time.
And these days only people over forty
wear a watch, and we’re less concerned
about them. Mobile devices?
We block network signals so that guests
can go unbothered by distractions.
The décor is always neutral;
if anyone asks, which they don’t,
we tell them the colour is August Wheat,
but you and I can see it’s beige.
A pastel shade here or there,
a couple of abstract pictures,
nothing too involving, nothing too fussy.
New arrivals are the most tricky to placate,
a lot of pacing often occurs,
they fret about why they are here,
and for how long; adjustment can take time,
but every guest comes round at some point:
notice how their bodies mould themselves
to the shape of the furniture.
Now, let’s leave this Department
to look at another Ministry;
Suffering is near-by, or perhaps
you’re interested in Broken Promises?
Truth be told it could be some time
before anyone is called from Waiting.

…

Neil’s collection, The Space Between Us, won the Cinnamon Press debut collection prize;  his Codes of Conduct won their pamphlet prize.  Also published: Being Present (2017),  And The House Watches On (2020). In 2021 Like This will be published by 4Word. Occasional Blog   https://neilelderpoetry.wordpress.com/ Twitter @Eldersville