A YOUNG MAN HEADS FOR THE MOUNTAINS

He has just put his left foot
into the eastern stirrup and swung
a leg over the main divide
settles his bum into the saddle

that summer has cleared of snow
It feels uncomfortable but warm.
his hands are slack upon reigns
cut from apron strings at home

In his pack is a tin of baked beans
and the sheath knife his father
gave him for his thirteenth birthday.
he has not forgotten his parka

the sleeping bag of feather down,
or the pair of designer snow-glasses
these are essential for young men
leaving home for the first time

He faces south, manes of white mares
fly in the wind. He will fart a lot.

SCIENTIST OF THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION

Only a scientist would ask
"who's Bob Marley?"
or say "Ah yes,
a bourbon like Jack Daniels"

The PM's itinerary is planned
to avoid confrontation
with genetic manipulation
communion in science

Moses is GM Commerce
newly appointed to lead us
to the rainbow land, eh Bob
pots of gold - in blue skies.

The same rusty lines
ripped from old grooves
by new needles, chorus lines
from Petronius Arbiter

Mr Monsanto, jungle hero
otherwise known as Tarzan
of Food Chains - sharp cookie
this bear - dum - dee do

Sophistry is the word
they never use
the argument that they use
checkmate

Dinosaurs sacrificed under Iridium
with Tyrannosaurs
bring me the Taniwha soap
stop the train.

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