New Poetry by Allan Lake

Reconnaissance from Lockdown

Could do a deep clean
but there’s so much time for that 
when every day’s a daze. Books, magazines, 
illicit second walk in the park after dark. 
Who’s counting? Besides fun police neighbours 
and perhaps underfunded upper case WHO.
Out-of-date news : Two eye-catching Rosellas 
bathed in a puddle yesterday. Neither cared 
if this mammal stared. Took my mind off spiking 
death rate, related vacuum. Wasn’t easy to gear 
this far down. Initial novelty, once in century thing. 
History no longer voluminous, mouldy past. 

Old films, sometimes starring the dusty dead, 
on TV then in dreams that flow into half-sleep
monotony, the lack of colour that is Lockdown 
despite oil spill rainbows, the odd tarty parrot. 
For your own lack lustre performance – atrophy
despite dumb dumbbell routine, brisk walk 
which slows to stroll minus good intentions. 
Should I exchange mismatch pyjamas for 
track suit, wash clothes or dishes, have toast 
and a tin of beans for lunch? Maybe, while 
making up my idling mind, lie on unmade
bed and read or get back in and just wait.


- ©Allan Lake 2020

Originally from Saskatchewan, Allan Lake has lived in Vancouver, Cape Breton Island, Ibiza, Tasmania, Perth & Melbourne. Poetry Collection: Sand in the Sole (Xlibris, 2014). Lake won Lost Tower Publications (UK) Comp 2017 & Melbourne Spoken Word Poetry Fest/The Dan 2018. Poetry Chapbook (Ginninderra Press, 2020): My Photos of Sicily.