Three Short Films ... continued

2 'The Dress Code'

below the rough clefts
and folds of the valley,

a painter's easel
awaits its princess
and unicorn.

within the frame:
a macrocarpa and some gorse
in need of a good trim.

yet when the figures
finally gallop into view,
we are surprised to find
a New York gangster

somewhat obscured
by a billboard
reading 'Coke'
against the sky.

the man, appearing
at the 'right time'
in the 'wrong place',
seems voluntarily nonchalant,

and, as he scratches his head
to decline our language,

we can't help but focus on
the shining steel
gripped (to perfection)
in his hand.

© 2000 Trout &
Mark Pirie