The Centre of the Universe by Paul Durcan Pushing my trolley about in the supermarket; I am the centre of the universe; Up and down the aisles of beans and juices, I am the centre of the universe; It does not matter that I live alone; It does not matter that I am a jilted lover; It does not matter that I am a misfit in my job; I am the centre of the universe. But I’m always here, if you want me - For I am the centre of the universe. I enjoy being the centre of the universe. It is not easy being the centre of the universe But I enjoy it. I take pleasure in, I delight in, Being the centre of the universe. At six o’clock a.m. this morning I had a phone call; It was from a friend, a man in Los Angeles; “Paul, I don’t know what time it is in Dublin But I simply had to call you: I cannot stand LA so I thought I’d call you.” I calmed him down as best I could. But I’m always here, if you want me - For I am the centre of the universe. I had barely put the phone down when it rang again, This time from a friend in Sao Paulo in Brazil: “Paul – do you know what is the population of Sao Paulo? I will tell you: it is twelve million skulls. Twelve million pairs of feet in one footbath. Twelve million pairs of eyes in one fishbowl. It is unspeakable, I tell you, unspeakable.” I calmed him down. But I’m always here, if you want me - For I am the centre of the universe. But then when the phone rang a third time and it was not yet 6.30 a.m., The petals of my own hysteria began to wake up and unfurl. This time it was a woman I know in New York City: “Paul – Ney York City is a Cage”, And she began to cry a little over the phone, To sob over the phone, And from five thousand miles away I mopped up her tears. I dabbed each tear from her cheek With just a word or two or three from my calm voice. I’m always here, if you want me - For I am the centre of the universe. But now tonight it is myself; Sitting at my aluminium double-glazed window in Dublin city; Crying just a little bit into my black tee shirt. If only there was just one human being out there With whom I could make a home? Share a home? Just one creature out there in the night- Is there not just one creature out there in the night? In Helsinki, perhaps? Or in Reykjavik? Or in Chapelizod? or in Malahide? So you see, I have to calm myself down also If I am to remain the centre of the universe; It’s by no means an exclusively self-centred automatic thing Being the centre of the universe. I’m always here, if you want me - For I am the centre of the universe. (from Poems – Deep & Dangerous by Josephine Philips)
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 15:05:18 +0000