The man who ate life


knew a man once who ate life

he was a wheat and sheep farmer
had a wife and money in the bank
almost owned his farm and everything on it
loved his beer and a drop of port
sang a pretty fair copy of Kristofferson songs
when in his cups which was often
he was the life of every barby
every gathering and function
with a non-stop delivery of quips and jokes
always asked to bring along his guitar
he never refused

as a member of the Volunteer Fire Service
he drove the fire truck did all the courses
fought the bush fires
gave archery lessons at the local primary school
was designated ‘wicked’ by the 12 year olds
even did Father Christmas once for the small ones
fished and hunted and tanned the skins
grew his own vegetables and fruit  
made chutneys and jams and pickles
raised chooks and eggs
loved his dog

one day
he ate his 12 gauge


* John Irvine is a regular IS&T contributor – we'll have news of the anthology he is putting together later this spring.