Neil Fulwood waxes topical…
Talk to her: the woman who applies the gauze
and talks you through the aftercare.
Talk to him: the man selling newspapers
from the old-fashioned stall.
The one whose identity’s a mystery
to you? Talk to them. Go ahead. Just
smile and be open and say hello.
Mention the weather and wish them well.
That’s all it needs to be: a greeting,
a small courtesy. Talk to them.
Who juggle everything thrown at them.
Who hack away at uncertainty
with the dull edge of hope. Who
put their shoulder to the messy business
of existence. Who break themselves
pushing against the immovable object
of the system. Their stories will be closer to yours
than yours is to the MP recently embroiled
in the expenses scandal. Closer to yours
than yours is to the media mogul
with the billion dollar yacht and trophy wife.
Closer to yours than yours is to the man
with the briefcase and the agenda
from the Institute of This Thing or the Other.
From That Was The Week That was 2025 Edition