The Betrayed Town and Other Poems

Lost and Found

7 Vigilance As I castigate myself The heavy dough out stares me, Watching quietly as I rant and curse Defeated, I acknowledge my neglect, Wonder at my own stupidity, Double over with laughter, Toss the evidence in the trash And profess future vigilance. Winnipeg, 1975 Lost and Found Can’t even find my way to the ticket office-Where ’s the ticket office Mister? Quoi -- Qu’est ce que tu dis ? Can you tell me where the ticket office is? Je ne te comprends pas, Monsieur. GONE Lost. No hope of redemption Betrayed into bandying phrases Recollected from ages past. Was it 10 15 20 or thirty years ago? The word for ticket is billet-something Or is it fish ( he’s thinking of fiche ) “Billet,” that’s it. 8 “Acheter,” is not difficult. Everyone does that. The President does that. The ministers do that. The office hag does that. Everyone indeed does that. They are people too! One is either doing this or ‘vendre’ (he forgets the ‘se’ preceding) But who cares! Would my old acquaintance think me senile? Would it scare him if I were to walk up softly? - -Pouvez-vous m’aider, mon fils? — Ottawa, 1976 ...