As side 3 plays, First Bite spins to a close. Massive thanks to Julie, Cindy and Ashley for taking the leap with me… am already excited about the shape our next project may take.
[photograph by Cindy Keong]
last piece of the puzzle
her body nestled
against mine
CK
*
bare foot in the kitchen
her teeth chatter la cucaracha
JB
*
the record spins
gathering blues
at dawn
GN
*
warmth kicks in
the womb
AM
*
first buds
appear under
her t-shirt
CK
*
lips on the wine glass
blooming red
JB
Filed under poetry
[photograph by Cindy Keong]
nightfall
grandfather’s stories flicker
in the flames
GN
*
we observe the animal
spines unusually fluid
AM
*
the dam
in full bloom
he feels no pulse
CK
*
sunburnt skin and sweat
beneath him
JB
*
not wanting
to show my heart
this first morning
GN
*
she tries too hard
with bar stool French
AM
*
on the second bottle
a surge
of waves
CK
*
a long walk home
breathing steam into her v neck
JB
*
still cold —
the moon lengthens
my stride
GN
*
a child could measure
and die, like the leaves
AM
Filed under poetry
While I have been leading the summer ginko group through their marvellous Snake Weather, I have also been taking part in our Autumn collaborative poem, this time with Ashley Martin, Cindy Keong and Julie Beveridge. To mix things up a little, we decided to write a Triparshva. Enjoy this first bite…
[photograph by Cindy Keong]
the first bite
of autumn
red apples
CK
*
seasoning the pie
it’s raining again
JB
*
a koel calls
we slip into
each other
GN
*
armed with pillows
I like your shadow
AM
*
hide and seek
the moon wears
a golden halo
CK
*
in keeping with tradition
we pray hand in hand
JB
Filed under poetry
With this sixth part of our renga, ‘The Crow’ has come to an end. It has been a thrill as always working with Ashley and Cindy; already we are planning an Autumn renga, so watch this space over the coming weeks. For now, enjoy the final flight of The Crow.
[photograph by Cindy Keong]
tissues pile up
every branch
stripped bare
*
face to face
with the wind
*
genealogy is all
you sleep in
a rented suit
*
unworn for years
this memory
*
clouds pass
the confused heads
of sunflowers
*
paperboy on your starlit route
the dark turning into birds
Filed under poetry
[photograph by Cindy Keong]
*
funeral procession
seeing more
of my mother
*
flamenco
with his ghost
*
mist rises
the sound of our
shadows touching
*
arm to arm
my son’s first steps
*
at the border
a crooked finger
fear of frost
*
letter from home
cracked on the fold line
Filed under poetry
[photograph by Cindy Keong]
*
drunk again
the blush of
bougainvillea
*
that we might have
bigger fires
*
Australian quality
stainless steel legs
on the lawn swan
*
so deceptive
the neighbour’s manicured nails
*
deaccelerate
as a gymnast slips
wetly off the bar
*
sun warmed
the orphaned nestling
Filed under poetry
[photograph by Ashley Martin]
*
milky saucer
cat’s got
your ebbing tongue
*
again…
the pond turns silver
*
rear view mirror
leaving town
at the lights
*
half a palace you bragged
our names in glyph
*
looking around
to ensure no one sees –
naked ladies
*
the gardener’s
toothless grin
Filed under poetry
