Antipodean Default Mode

       they were living in Australia
       two heads were better than one
       they were living in Australia
       across the Tasman Sea from New Zealand
       they were living in Australia
       where the universe turns on at sunset
       they were living in Australia
       every minute of every day
       they were living in Australia
       learning the lesser lesson
       they were living in Australia
       deliriously
       they were living in Australia
       hoping for the best
       they were living in Australia
       along a slinky desert edge
       they were living in Australia
       unpacking the national library
       they were living in Australia
       with biodegradable mousepads
       they were living in Australia
       everything had seen better days
       they were living in Australia
       just for the heck of it
       they were living in Australia
       once in a lifetime
       a long lifetime not a short one
       they were living in Australia
       to forget about you
       they were living in Australia
       like true blue Americans
       they were living in Australia
       waking in fright
       they were living in Australia
       never looking back

A poem I wrote after hearing John Ashbery read 'Default Mode'
at City University New York's Graduate Centre on October 30th, 2008

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