<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cotinus Coggygria [koe-TY-nus koe-GIG-ree-ah] I was thinking about
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nthe point distance becomes
\nlong-distance between two
\nlovers in the future,
\nand how technology
\nwill speed everything up:
\nthe journey to her house
\nor her journey to yours;
\nwhen you can surprise mum
\nand say, ‘I\u2019ve met a girl
\nwest of Buenos Aires,’
\nand she’d say, ‘Thank goodness
\nyou\u2019ve found someone local!\u2019
\nAnd when dad hears the news,
\nyou\u2019d see his shoulders drop
\nin relief as he thought
\nhow much petrol he\u2019d save
\nin a deep depression,
\none thousand recessions
\nfrom now. Neither would know
\nwhere Buenos Aires was,
\nbut they were both certain
\nthey\u2019d been: ‘Didn\u2019t you have
\na birthday party there?
\nOr was it to collect
\nthose photos we had framed
\nand mounted in the hall?’
\nFor trips that are simpler
\nthan the turn of a key,
\nI hope you\u2019ll have balloons,
\ngifts wrapped with ribbon bows
\nand unspoilt surprises
\nstill available to
\nkeep you both sane, and once
\nsettled, can consider
\nthrough quadruple glazing
\nthe red veins of a tree
\nthat grows in your garden
\nyour young wife is convinced
\nis a Royal Purple.
\nAnd almost above all,
\nI wish to Whomever,
\nthat you\u2019ll have an uncle
\nwho gets smashed on sloe gin
\nat family parties,
\nwho talks about days that
\nseem religions away,
\nand is five times over
\nthe drink-fly limit; slumped
\nin the summer, against
\nyour auntie’s final straw.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n