Saturday

I’m holding a taut cord,

on the other end of which,

held in a galvanized bucket

half full of ink, is a camera

that I retrieve and let fall again

as if dunking a biscuit.

I have an appointment

with the daughter of a friend

at 2.48pm

but do not know the present time,

then I see her

dressed informally and facing away from me

so, I have to touch her sleeve

to attract attention.

She turns and looks surprised

regarding a wristwatch

on the sleeve that I touched,

indicating I might be early.

Where is the camera? She asks.

I walk back to the shiny bucket

noticing the cord and the ink 

have disappeared,

leaving only the camera inside the pail

boxed as new.

Opening the box I see

the camera requires assembly,

and when I turn, look up

the girl is walking away in the distance

with four dogs, each on a lead

I still do not know the time.

*

© Graham Sherwood 03/2019