Conferences #poems #poetry

Posted on Mar 12, 2017 by TanGental

I don’t do many conferences these days. I wrote about one such recently, here. I was however reminded of a poem I wrote after trailing to the Italian Lakes for a conference on the ‘Structure of the Law and Legal Practices’ or some such tosh. The Italian Lakes, I ask you. You could see them shimmering outside as we breakfasted before we were ushered into a bunker fit for a Cold War film set or Bond villain. As you will gather my attempts to draw some sanity out of such wasted opulence by calling home rather failed me…

Conference purgatory


It’s not that I’m homesick, I like to go;
It’s fun, an experience, I’m spoiled, I know.
But when I’m alone, I reach for the phone
To send you a text, so I can show
That I’m not vexed, I don’t feel hollow.


The rooms are five star, the food just the best;
The staff are caring, they spoil each guest.
But here in my room, I’m enveloped in gloom;
You haven’t replied, I know I’m a pest.
Maybe you’ve tried, really I’ll give it a rest.


We go to the sights, ancient and rare;
We take to the lake, boundless, azure.
But at the first break, to relieve my dull ache
I stare at the screen, silent and bare
Desperate to scream: ‘Do you really care?’


We shake and we smile; we’ll all meet again.
In France, in the spring, or autumn, in Spain.
But behind the false grin, my head’s in a spin
I’m in so much pain, it’s been such a strain
As I sit on the plane, thinking: ‘Will I see you again?’

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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14 Responses to Conferences #poems #poetry

  1. James says:
    Mar 12, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    Your conference still sounds better than mine. I concede that they’re dull wherever they are, but my last one was in a Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Reading…

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Judy E Martin says:
    Mar 12, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    II enjoyed that, Geoff! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Allie P. says:
    Mar 12, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    I can totally relate.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Let's CUT the Crap! says:
    Mar 12, 2017 at 6:09 pm

    I can relate but it’s been a few years. Sigh. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  5. jan says:
    Mar 12, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    You should submit this poem to one of those airline magazines!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Charli Mills says:
    Mar 13, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    An interesting juxtaposition between the faked socializing and the quiet longing for intimacy.

    Liked by 1 person

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