part one
A on a couch
B on a couch
C on a couch
two people and a dog
on a couch
A was there first
Headphones on
Eyes engaged
Brain absorbed
An upright body
A straight face
An occasional chuckle
A and the tv
connected by an invisible
hypnotic bond
the essence of the show
transmitted bluetoothically
directly to A’s brain
Big soft black muffs
cupping A’s ears
tenderly guarding
the way of access
keeping the world out
so he could be
a world unto himself.
part two
B was there last
Phone in hand, slouched
On a corner of the couch
Cautiously wedged
Between cushion and arm
Allowing respectful distance
Between her fluid self
And the solid wall nearby.
An occasional sigh.
Kindle app, fiction.
A new practice
to make space for herself
The Simple Gift
So simple and yet so full
So flowy
Overflowy
Page after page
B. C. A. B. Melbourne. A. A. B. NPCs. A. B. Mum. Dad. X. Y. A. B. B. A. Z.
No invisible connections here
Phone in hand, eyes on phone
Ears wide open
Heart even more so
No big soft black muffs
Or equivalent
To contain B’s experience
As she spilled out
Onto the couch
Into her phone
Into herself
And into
the world beyond.
part three
C weaves in and out
Waggy tail
Shiny eyes
Open heart
Warmth radiating
across soft little body
Pure love. A full lap’s worth.
He sits in one lap
And in the other
Fully loved, fully welcome.
A rigid body and headphones
will not keep him out
And a spillage between cushion and couch arm
will hold itself together
for him.
He chews on a bone.
C is uncomplicated
Present, loving, sweet, complete
And this uncomplicated thing
is a bridge between
stop and go
wall and window
dam and free flow
The treasure of
this home
this night
this couch
and the two people on it
connected at all tonight
only because of him.
Jaya Berged 