Time management

Graham Dukas


I’d like to take Time and tie it to the hawthorn

that stands in the front garden

and leave it there

so that it can see for itself how frequently

the seasons change their mind.

Or maybe I’ll leave it in the garage for a while

in that tight space

between the garden tools and the broken chair

where it can be lulled into the benefits

of procrastination.

Perhaps I’ll give it a whirl in the washing machine,

some warm sunlight

and a hot iron to straighten out its creases

before packing it away

until I feel ready for another birthday.

From: McGregor Poetry Anthology 2013

Published by African Sun Press in association with the McGregor Poetry Festival

ISBN number 978-0-620-62302-5


The Poet:

Graham Dukas lives and works in Cape Town. He divides his time between business management and strategy consulting, executive coaching and as a part-time teaching assistant at UCT’s School of Architecture. He started writing at a young age but lost his way as the demands of parenting and earning a living took over as priorities. In recent years he has returned to the pen, inspired by the simple experiences of this peculiar thing called life.