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              Susanne Lutherborrow

      Poverty in Hobart (Winter, 1992)

 

 

                                         it's so cold here

                                         i wrote to my friend

                                         it's so cold

                                         that one morning

                                         i turned on the oven

                                         hotplates

                                         and griller

                                         full blast

                                         the children said

                                         you're crazy

                                         i didn't tell them

                                         i'd tried to turn

                                         the fridge around

                                         - the heat from the motor

                                         you know -

                                         but it wouldn't budge

 

                                         well

                                         now i'm sitting

                                         cushioned

                                         in front of the fireplace

                                         a glass of red

                                         old music playing

                                         paper and pen

                                         ah

                                         the glow of the flames

                                         the sound and smell

                                         of the wood burning

                                         what comfort!

                                         what warmth!

                                         if i stare long enough

 

                                         but don't worry

                                         i've checked out my entitlements

                                         now that i have

                                         a pensioner concession card

                                         and guess what?

                                         i can get free firewood

                                         from the forestry commission

                                         just need some way of getting

                                         god knows where

                                         a means of transporting

                                         the precious cargo

                                         and the ability to chop the wood

                                         smaller

                                         than the size

                                         of a tree