150 words as I wait for a tree to grow back (I, II, III)

 

150 words as I wait for a tree to grow back (I, II, III), digital video, 
3 min., 28 sec., 2020


 

 

150 words as I wait for a tree to grow back - I, II, III

 

 

150 words as I wait for a tree to grow back

I

 

Man at the back has cut down his tree

and now we are in a terrible romance

where each morning our eyes catch across the fence

before quickly turning away to focus on our tasks.

 

Man at the back is not tall enough for me

and fortunately married to his clever musician wife

(well done, man) and probably would not want me

with three kids and an anger problem.

 

Man at the back may just be stupid enough however

to like the idea of me, who probably looks

quite dazzling and blurred from over there

as anger doesn’t travel well through windows and the kids are out of view.

 

Man at the back comes round to talk about the fence

that has blown over many times recently (since cutting down the tree)

and which he can’t fix, him not being handy.

Man is stupid and looks intently at me.

 

 

 

II

 

Woman at the back, one along, has cut down her tree

and now the infirm fence is even more fucked.

What is it with everyone undermining my fence

which was happily doing its job until recently?

 

Woman at the back tells me we should all get together

and work out a plan to sort out the fence

but I can’t help feeling this is something else

coming from people who destroy perfectly good trees.

 

Woman at the back talks too much

and it is hard to end the conversation about my fence.

I would rather have a fence than have a talk

and I’m grieving the fence that meant I didn’t have to.

 

Woman at the back has been speaking to man at the back

and his wife and they are all in agreement.

I find the number for Richard, who maintains boundaries

and though it is Saturday, I call him.

 

 

 

III

 

Woman at the back needs to pull down her blind

and seriously rethink where she sits getting dressed

as each morning I see her from afar

with hair dryer blasting sat totally fucking clueless in her bra.

 

Woman at the back is too tall and too fierce for me

and fortunately, married, to that rock climber chap

(dickhead) and probably would not want me

with short legs and making smalltalk anxiety.

 

Woman at the back might just be interested enough however

to like the idea of me who probably looks

quite forceful and decisive from over there

since self-doubt doesn’t travel well through windows and my wife is out of view.

 

Woman at the back suggests I try and fix the fence

that has blown over many times recently (since storms blew down the tree)

and which her man can’t fix; so I go round to see –

Woman is not interested and stares angrily at me.