Melbourne downpour

Melbourne downpour

means it takes everyone

hours to get home

I am safe and dry in my car

end of irritating work day

Restless and bored

Flicking through radio stations

I select the most popular

commercial drive team

There must be

a reason why

millions tune in every day

Within twenty minutes

I hear the drive team duo

a recap from breakfast

and a promo for the next show

Their voices are

hoppy beer on a hot day

creamy chocolate

a bubble bath for my ears

their words are big

fat bright shiny

glowing lies

about themselves

about the world

about the intimate

and down to earth relationship

they have with me, the listener

about how similar they are to me

and how far removed they are

from that mendacious

world of celebrity

Their lies

are so crunchy and

delectable

that I want to eat them all up

told with such brazen joy

that I long for them

to be true

Each lie is worth

more than my day’s entire work

ballooning their already

brimming bank accounts

inflating their already

elephantine egos

I drive on

the rain

steaming up

my car

I want to believe them

as much as I wanted to believe

that boy murmuring

sweet lies

in the rain

steaming up

his car

so many years ago

We want to believe the lies

but once you arrive

and open the car door

and step outside

you are alone

with only your voice

resounding