Central station & CBD

Pigeons and seagulls
a swarm of them eating something
thrown by passers by
it’s a living mass of individuals making a whole

A Chinese woman with a mole
out of proportion
the size of a finger nail

Westpac bank -George street
a CHUBB Security van
parked outside
A nervous security officer on standby
near the door
looking for trouble
a squat fat man
is hanging round
he drives the car
that precedes the van
it all has an air of suspicion

Hungry Jacks
A simple cup of tea
couldn’t understand a word
said by the serving girl
three repetitions
to understand what she means
the decor in here is ‘happy days’
lots of chrome and spangly seats in glittery silver
circa 1950

a Sleeping bag
and milk crates outside the
Sydney plaza center
is it an installation?
what might it mean?

three beggars on various corners
two just sitting
one moaning a bit
and then a guy with a shoe shine stand
just sitting on folded knees
almost Bhuddist
he’s got a sign

I am homeless – shoe-shine
struggling
please help me
I am having a go
if you would like to sponsor me
I would be helpful
I also polish briefcases
Jesus loves you

What if he packs up from here
goes to his high class apartment
takes off his wig
and becomes something else?

I donlt think so as he
He goes to the bin
to retrieve a cigarette butt discarded
the contrast is interesting
being here
in the heart of the financial district

the Commonwealth bank building
when it used to owned by the Commonwealth
a coat of arms
emblazoned above each doorway
Corinthian columns
sandstone

Martin place
A man with a trolley
of Australia post delivery boxes
pauses as some of them teeter off
dropping onto the pavement
he turns around to re-secure them
looks to be late fifties
is this all he’s ever done?
what is he looking forward to in his retirement?

I Follow a bloke on a mobile phone
“ended up on my arse three times”
three times he says
was he skiing I wonder?
Black suit with thick and thin grey lines
well clipped grey hair
a satchel under his arm

Curtin place
suited men having quick lunches
stockbroking lunch breaks
the eateries getting ready for lunch
making mountains of food
Mongolian chickens
Saskatchuan beef
ready for the lunchtime rush

Circular Quay

Looking to the opera house
Overcast
sun indistinct
as is the light
reflecting from the white sails
I’ve got a ringside seat
with my Rice paper rolls
and bottle of fizz
for ten bucks

there’s a round of Didgeridoo
with Duff Duff accompaniment
eating my lunch
with a choir of jealous seagulls
vying for my attention

what if….
I got back to the station
reached for my wallet
and it wasn’t there!
no money
no proof of who I am
credit cards hanging in the wind
how do you prove who you are?

Ettalong Motel

expansive water views
the fluorescent light in
the bathroom hums with a life of its own
metal plugs with a chain in the sink
the furniture circa ’68
as are the light fittings

A bar heater close to the roof
electrical cable frayed
no safety tag
so old it’s yellowed
with nicotine
and all the cigarette smoke
since 1960
a great companion for the helicopter
approaching from the distance
of the fluorescent bathroom light

Dinner at the pub
babbling voices
at the Ettalong Beach Hotel
a Whitesnake video
On the wide-screen LCD
Buffy hair
and backlit silhouettes
and stadium performances
and girls half dressed