Michael Giacon - Buddies - Live Encounters

Giacon LE P&W March 2026

Live Encounters Aotearoa New Zealand Poets & Writers March 2026

Buddies, poems by Michael Giacon.

Buddies

If love is not forever, then what is love? We give it the span of a week or two six or so
months an hour, arms flung across our hearts against belief but if love is not forever
what is?
If my heart were not so cold I’d cry and fill the empty Valentine with at least the
shadow of passion.
What is love if not forever?

We meet in secret society to spook the haunt of happiness volunteer a life
on earth limbo too droll hell just awful On the first of our rounds through
a vague enough day of domestic bliss one that would says to one that might
I love you.

Some of the buddies feel warm others swear vows on mute lips I break our code
to sink in a vale of doubt that’s lost its echo calling me for inspiration.

Afraid to fear it’s no surprise I notice your eyes dark with shaded love and lost
in a day without a date if you’re attractive there’s something pale in the black
hole of me warmed honestly.

To be honest I’ll pronounce myself dead to the inner circle when we meet
next week on the ladder of love To believe is true always if love is not forever
what is love?

The bottom line

The note says your brother has advanced macular degeneration.

Is that correct?

a sudden wave breaks through me opening me up closing me down

Can you read the bottom line?

I can’t anyhow and not at all through tears

Could I have a tissue please?

I update the information correct the correct

I’m sorry, I’ll add ‘Deceased’.

When you’re ready we can try the bottom line again.

The Weight

A morning call unusual as when we do speak

it’s always of an evening, always. Out and about,

he got an enthusiastic greeting from someone

he didn’t recognise, a lawyer he’d worked with

for 21 years. Not the first time it’s happened.

He’s been watching the TV programme

where people with dementia run a restaurant

that makes mistakes. Things made sense.

Blood tests ‘largely normal’ Dr said in txt then Dr

taken ill so won’t see her til Thurs after cognitive tests

tomorrow then today/tomorrow cognitive person has a

bereavement in family so no appts this wk have to

rebook for next wk.

I’ve taken to making mental lists of names

sometimes I write them on my kitchen whiteboard:

Chico Groucho Gummo Harpo Zeppo – alphabetical

the characters in The Big Bang Theory – S&A/L&P/R/and…

(from the internet H&B)

for Robert Palmer think Robert Plant/Led Zeppelin

and then there’s The Band, five of them –

Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard… ,

Garth Hudson and…

I can sing every line of ‘The Weight’, though.

I’m doing that now.

Michael Giacon is a central city Tāmaki Auckland poet. His work has appeared in a wide range of journals and he published his first volume, undressing in slow motion, in May 2024. He’s a Samesame but Different Writers’ Festival board member where he presents the PRIDE Poetry Speakeasy and Open Mic.

Michael Giacon – Buddies

Buddies

The bottom line

The Weight

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