R.S.V.P.
I am writing to invite you
to commemorate the first anniversary of our dead;
we will provide cake and whisky,
you the sombre tone. The gathering will start promptly at eight,
and dress will be black tie. Respect is
the theme of the evening. However, we plan for the party
to pass into the small hours of the
morning, when, after much drinking – ties, tongues and feelings
will be loose enough to hang baubles
of memories onto our family trees which spin
in all directions. We ask
that you keep touching to a minimum and that you
use uncomfortable hugs
and firm handshakes only. I ask that you mark
this date on your calendar
with a large X, this will signal when it is
time to gather. Then,
your own importance will splinter to allow
the gods to remake
life from the dust of your memories. We will provide
the toasts, pre-arranged
silences, seating plans and tissues.
* Stephen Cuthbertson says… “Originally from Motherwell, Scotland, and having made a few stops across Britain in between, recently completed a MA in Creative Writing from Newcastle University. I now find myself in Vienna and have made walking in confused directions across the city a new past time, whilst at the same time looking for loving homes for my poetry.”
