These Roadside Coffee Stands can be regarded
As having sprung spontaneously
From coffee dregs in takeaway cups discarded.
They should not have called the Cookstrait ferry
Awatere
Which means “Rapid Path”
What a laugh.
Very creative is the way
They explain delay—
Cancelled sailing—
We left a message on your answerphone
As you weren’t home.
Or
We are short of a ship
So we are fitting every one on this trip.
or (they called this a propulsion problem)
Cancelled sailing—
Sorry you have to wait
Awatere’s prop is the middle of the Strait
or
In Wellington the trains were slow to load
Sorry you will be a little late back on the road
Then there’s the passengers on these trips
The ones behind you crunching chips
Or the ample supplies
Of hot mince pies
Which they eat on the tick
Of everyone else feeling sick
The cellphone crowd
With conversations loud
And the women who scream with mirth
From ship’s loading to ship’s berth.