Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

Look, the room is full of people, they are standing in groups talking to each other. Some are holding glasses, some are holding cigarettes, some are holding both, some are not holding anything. Some of the groups are composed of men and women, others contain only men, others still contain fewer women than men, yet others fewer men than women. Scattered round the walls of the room are some more isolated figures, both men and women. They stand singly, in pairs, even in threes, but most often singly.

     The double doors open inwards and in walks Mander. He is not with anybody. He stands and looks at what is going on. A gentleman nearby walks up to Mander, extends a hand towards him. In the fraction of a second that elapses, Mander regards the gentleman’s hand, then extends one of his own. The two hands meet midway between Mander and the gentleman and grip each other. Done it. Mander looks pleased. Now the gentleman says something to Mander and Mander says something back. They go on talking to each other. Mander seems quite content with all this, he appears to be quite content to stay where he is, just inside the double doors, talking to the gentleman.

     But evidently the gentleman has other ideas. He picks up a glass from a tray containing other glasses, and thrusts the glass into Mander’s other hand. Mander looks at the glass, the gentleman is still talking. Presently Mander lifts the glass to his lips and sips whatever is inside it. As if this were a signal of some kind, the gentleman now takes Mander by the elbow and begins to propel him away from the doors. Mander looks surprised by this action, he might be about to protest, but eventually he does nothing. After all, for all he knows, this might lead to something interesting. You can’t tell. But what happens is that the gentleman stops by one of the groups of people. He leans forward, still holding Mander by the elbow, and disengages another gentleman’s attention from the group he is in and draws Mander, by the elbow, towards this new person.

     This second gentleman looks at Mander expectantly but, since nothing else happens, he extends a hand towards Mander which Mander, having by now understood what he is meant to do, accepts. The second gentleman now draws Mander into the circle made by the group, at which the first gentleman, who lead him there to begin with, says something to Mander and goes off across the room. Mander’s eyes follow him, after all he had probably got quite used to him. Well, never mind, he settles down to survey the new scenery. The second gentleman is introducing Mander to the group. He spends some time doing this. One by one each member of this group shakes hands with Mander. By the time this operation is finished Mander is looking quite bewildered. Having dealt with Mander the other members of the group go on talking to each other. Mander is not saying anything, he is listening, he seems content to stay where he is.

     Soon, however, the group begins to break up, first one person says something and leaves, then another and so on. They drift across and round about the room and join other groups, which have themselves just broken up and reformed with different elements. Mander is left where he is, he had presumably got used to being there. By his side stands a third gentleman. Mander looks at him. This person then says something to Mander, takes him by the elbow and guides him to another group situated in another part of the room, containing fewer women than men. Mander looks as if he might be a little reluctant to go, this new group may not be so interesting as the last since all the gentlemen in it are all very busy talking to the two ladies it contains. It looks as if conversation might be difficult in such a situation. Mander may be thinking that, but you can’t be sure. Anyway, before he can do anything, the third gentleman engages the attention of a fourth in the group, who takes Mander’s hand and pumps it up and down several times, with all the appearances of a hearty welcome. He doesn’t seem to mind Mander joining them. But at this point, the third gentleman makes off across the room.

     Mander looks restless. Perhaps this shuttling to and fro across the room is beginning to distress him. After all, he hardly has time getting set to talk to one gentleman before he is forced to concentrate on another. It hardly makes for placidity. He leans forward, evidently trying to hear what is being said. All the members of this group are straining toward the two ladies present, to whom all their remarks, which apparently are often made at the same time, are directed. Obviously, this makes listening very difficult. Mander gives up trying to listen. He is standing behind four gentlemen who are all talking at once to one of the ladies. She is nodding her head wisely as it she understands. Manders waits for something to happen. And sure enough, soon members of this group, in their turn, begin to drift away. Mander watches this happen. He is, perhaps, looking anxious.

     Just when he is about to be left alone with a fifth gentleman, the ladies having gone, Mander turns on his heels abruptly, and walks off himself. Well, this is a new pattern, he’s obviously learning fast. Now he stations himself up against the wall. By his side there is a small table, on the table some glasses. He takes one, raises it to his lips and drinks some of the contents. He is surveying the room. He sees the various groups cement themselves, talk, then drift apart to form up again other groups. This process happens several times. Mander is frowning now. He takes another glass and watches the flux and reflux of the groups continue for several more times. Mander is about to put down the second glass but he hesitates. Wait a minute, he’s gone quite stiff, he’s seen something nearby. There, you see, one of the isolated figures disposed around the walls of the room is sidling with intent of some kind towards him. Evidently, Mander does not like what he sees. Perhaps the ides of being lead into yet another group does not appeal to him, perhaps the thought of having to talk at all is not one at which his heart now beats excitedly. Anyway, before this other, lonely gentleman can approach. Mander suddenly puts down the glass, projects himself away from the wall and crosses the room hurriedly, weaving in and out between the talking groups. Yes, he’s making for the double doors, he’s almost there, he’s reaching for the handle, he pulls them open and, without any hesitation at all, he leaves the room, pulling the doors very firmly together behind him. That’s that. After all, you can hardly blame him, it was not very exciting. Anyway, now he’s gone. The groups are still there talking. Well, he’s seen enough for one evening.