Bio
BN Oakman, formerly an academic economist, has published many poems in journals and magazines in Australia, the UK and the USA as well as two full length collections, In Defence of Hawaiian Shirts (IP 2010) and Second thoughts (IP 2014) plus two chapbooks. In 2016 the distinguished Australian actor John Flaus recorded 25 of Bruce's poems for a CD titled 'What did I know?' www.bnoakman.com.
BN Oakman
Maratón
Maratón de Madrid, 27 April 2019
It's a small bar with standing room for ten,
elbow to elbow. The owner's name is Juan.
He is not a small man. Everyone except me
calls him Juanito. Today every side-street
is barricaded against the maratón. Juan and I
know neither of us will ever run a marathon.
I say, 'Thinking of having a run today, Juan?'
He turns from a steaming espresso machine.
'Ah, cómo estás, Señor Boss'. He knows my
name but usually likes to invoke Springsteen.
'La vida es un maratón', he says. 'What breed
of fool needs run two at the same time?'
His machine hisses a sizzling affirmation.