Michael Batchelor's Blog, page 21

Supermarket

I scanned millions of items
Packed thousands of bags
Sold hundreds of durries
Got abused tens of times
And fell in love once

The maths checks out

The Last Sleepover

I was staying at my
Best friend’s house
When a girl
I was chasing
Asked me to a party
He said he didn’t mind
And I was desperate
To be with her
So I said yes
And bailed on the sleepover

That was 12 years ago
And it hasn’t left me

I guess I’m feeling guilty
Because although I didn’t kill the friendship
I killed the closeness

And now I often
Lay in bed
Desperate
For one last sleepover

Passion

Boy sometimes
Having a passion
Is heaven
And other days
It’s hell
The more you want it
The worse it is
When you don’t get it
But you’re determined
To win the prize
So you never stop
And it’s a constant cycle
Of hope
And disappointment
Hope
And disappointment

Kids These Days

I was walking along the street
Drinking coffee
Enjoying the sunshine
When a car
Pulled up beside me
Filled with laughing teenagers
The passenger
Winded down the window
Started recording me
And asked for directions
Before I could answer
He made some joke
Before the car sped away

And I stood there
Watching the shrinking car
Feeling like a fool
A used prop

The Wind

Every night
I brush my teeth
While staring out at the sky
And every night
A strong breeze
Brushes through me
And ignites my soul
Like a lump of coal

Child’s Play

We lived in a house
At the top of a hill
One day I got a skateboard
And was skating up and down
The hill
Then a kid from the street
Comes out
Takes my board
Runs to the top of the hill
And starts skating down
Faster
And faster
Towards me
I’m nervous as hell
And my brain tells me to
Leap out of the way
But my legs
Are glued to the path
So he’s coming
And coming
With a smug grin on his face
But as he gets within 20 metres
His face changes
And he’s scared
Because he doesn’t have the cowardice
To hit me
So he veers off the path
And crashes onto the ground
And I’m standing there
Looking down at him
And he’s looking up at me
Thinking I’m courageous
When really
I was too scared to move

Goodness

Most people will say
They’re good people
But I don’t buy it
They’re just indifferent
Nothing good
Nothing bad
Just out for themselves

Passion

Writing a book
Is a passion
Cooking a meal
Is a passion
Painting a mountain
Is a passion

Money isn’t a passion
It’s a means to an end

So don’t make money your passion
Don’t fall for it

Find your passion
And be wealthy

Talk

Kids often
Talk better than adults
They’re honest
Fearless
Pure
Then
Somewhere along the way
They get infected
With insecurity
Cowardice
Ego
And they dance around
The truth
Learn mind games
And conversation
Becomes an art
A deception
Rather than a function

Blueberry

There’s a blueberry
In your belly
And it’s scary
I don’t feel ready
But it’s happening
And I’ll do my best
To face
The greatest test