I almost slept with Don Binney

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So said a woman in Nelson at a talk

by Gregory O’Brien, or so he tells us

At his talk at Featherston Booktown






Almost slept, the words fill the air





in the Anzac Hall. All those military





men gazing down in disapproval










There must be millions of us, who





‘almost’ slept with someone and





that doesn’t even include fucking










I recall a US sailor off an Icebreaker





at my flat in Hataitai… we slept





together but we didn’t, you know










I was saving myself at the time





stocking my glory box with Irish





linen and pearl handled cutlery










So, I’m distracted, as Grego describes





two bold birds mating, the print his





parents gave him for his 8th birthday










two birds (God knows what sort of birds)





mating but it took Greg several years





to know this fact… Steve Braunias in










an altogether different session in





the Kiwi Hall tell us you need at least 70





facts in a piece of non-fiction










(I see writers scribbling this gem or





committing it to memory)










Almost slept could well be a fact but





could be easily misunderstood





I’m still thinking about it










The whole idea that this woman and I’ve





no idea how old she was when she said





this, wanted us to know










I almost slept with Don Binney










Greg is eloquent, passionate, he’s a man





to whom the letter P applies, a poet and





a painter, inspired by Binney’s mating birds










But it’s the woman who almost slept with





Binney, who holds us, riveted, her voice





unheard, fills the Anzac Hall






			


	



				
	
			
	


	
			

			8 thoughts on “I almost slept with Don Binney”		


		
		
    
			
	
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					Saigeisms's avatar					saigeisms				
    

							
    

			
    
				
    Brilliant poem, an acid rain sort poem, the consideration of a phrase, your penetration of it with care and wit. A poem that shows how some phrases passed on ever so lightly, carry a weight that can’t be ignored.
    

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