At the conference lunch

the industry chatterboxes turn

a gavotte, then prop and scythe

about the buffet loading

up pot roast, pumpkin salad,

rendang.  Says the keynote

speaker bignoting counterflow

down the queue: “Hey I’m on

the Be More Biodynamic

close-out,

next up.”

Tops.

          Our gaze drains

to the Harbour, a heaving sluice

of yachts and city views — it retains

all our best attempts at describing

its irruption then chucks them back,

like we don’t know what we’ve got,

which is a Paddy’s Market tchotchke

or a box of chocolates, “spent coins

of abiding love,” you say.  Good one,

thanks hon.