In the office.

the pens are all dry
and the printer's
not working. the sun
through the window
strikes hard on our late
afternoon. in the office
desks hump
with computer
grey monitors,
like stems in an over-
dry garden.
someone walks
to the toilet
and people
look up
in the manner
of animals
watching the herd.
everyone knows
where he's
going—
will notice
if he's gone
very long.

back to issue

DS Maolalai has been nominated four times for Best of the Net and three times for the Pushcart Prize. His poetry has been released in two collections, Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden (Encircle Press, 2016) and Sad Havoc Among the Birds (Turas Press, 2019).