Eve

It is the big night.

 

Haggis hot

neaps

and tatties

all prepared.

 

Adequate single malt.

 

1970’s

middle-class, middle-age, middle of the road affluence.

 

Stands

prepared

memorised the words

Rabbi* Burns

Toast to the…

 

Mind-block is fascinating.

 

One moment all is ready, the next, nothing.

 

I remember a similar episode.

 

The Israeli Ambassador

was visiting Glasgow

it was during the First Gulf War – I remember in particular as I wrote a poem about Messerschmitt’s, Sadaam and innocents.

 

I stood and asked a question –

It would likely have been some honest, from the heart

Left-wingism;

like, why kill babies or make people homeless over

Oil.

 

And, I was heckled

by a couple of stolid Weegies.

 

A father and son

pair

I knew from school.

 

They succeeded in derailing me.

Sending me

down an empty

thought-alley.

 

And suddenly there were no words.

 

My argument

ran dry

Like

a wadi

when too much has been taken

by too many people.

 

Embarrassing.

 

Perhaps an inherited trait;

Being less than prepared.

 

Mostly,

Now,

When raising a point,

I am prepared,

At least the odd word

Scribbled in note-form,

To help,

In case.

 

My dad,

He didn’t have anything,

Just the need to sit down and let people eat.

Was it five seconds?

Ten, thirty.

 

Moments of self-apprehension can last an eternity.

*Funny that Rabbi is part of Word’s dictionary but not the Scottish form of Robert – Robbie – aka, Rabbie.