Collapse by D.S. Maolalai

it was a wedding – my aunt.
and I’d been asked
to give a speech.
I can write ok
but honestly
I’m not much of a talker, god help me
and the worst: I steered things far
too sincere. all flowered metaphors
and real affection. I talked
about childhood – growing up
with her. and her wife; how they were
a set
of those ornamental salt
and pepper shakers
you get which hold each other up
and collapse
if you don’t balance them. she’s one
of my favourite aunts
and I meant it all
but fuck – the next guy, her new
nephew-in-law I guess,
was better. didn’t even
have to read it
off paper. just went
on his guts. stood up
holding a pint,
congratulating them
and thanking everyone. writing words
and just talking to people; different things
as birds
and spider-monkeys.

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D.S. Maolalai is a graduate of English Literature from Trinity College in Dublin and recently returned there after four years abroad in the UK and Canada. He has been writing poetry and short fiction for the past five or six years with some success. His writing has appeared in such publications as 4’33’, Strange Bounce and Bong is Bard, Down in the Dirt Magazine and Unrorean Broadsheet, by whom he was twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He also recently published a short collection with Encircle Publications entitled ‘Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden’.

Photo: Jaunathan Gagnon