sound in the clockman’s workshop – vale George

A small collection of poems written about, or for my dad, George Prem over the years. George passed away today, March 30th 2020. the clock man the storm-water gutters on the house next door are ticking contractions like a timepiece with a stutter ........................................................tick      tick      tick tick ............tick      tick      tick      tick the early night is …

Video readings

Just a little advance notice. I'm hanging out to read to someone. It feels like ages since I had a chance to do that, so I'm planning to do some readings tonight. Maybe from the Pandemic poems and each of the Love Poetry books. Watch out for it. Any requests, let me know. This is …

wishing a star (at four ay-em)

the starsat four ay-emare pinpointsagainst the dark butI crane my neckto watch them a slow driftof stellar cloudsailingthe cosmos indifferentto small livesand wonder buta wish uponisa wish upon no matter the likelihoodofa wish uponbeing noticedor attended and I wishedupon a shooting lightthat flashed byperipherally I turned my wantinto a small requestand nowI hold it close …

the facility #4: unless (for palliation)

it has takena while the old manand his sonhave developed a relationshipthat has certainunspokenrules the old manhas always been competentin areas where the sonhas not skilled work by handsand in general labouringare the old man’s skill set his sense of personal controland competencehas always beenvitalto him the son knowsto to stepacross thresholds break through boundaries …

a social distancing (of money)

at the hardwarestore at the butchery there is black tapemarking out crosseson the floor they are placed a metreand a halfapart there is a signon the counterto declarethere is only roomfor three peopleat a timein this store responsiblesocial distancingat work at the bankas I steppeda pace forwardtoward the glass the tellermoved backone pace she gestured …

fourteen years (out of picture)

there is a weepingon the tv tonight a manclosing downhis lifeof the last fourteen years a businessbuilt from scratch he can’thold it togetheron cameraas he tells his anguishat having to let gohis staff his wonderful staff and swearinga vowto start over againwhen this virusthis disasteris gone day oneofyear oneofanother fourteen I’m sorryhe apologies to viewers …

The best of reviews

A couple of weeks back I received proof copies of the paperback editions of A Love Poetry Trilogy in the mail. All three of them, even though the 2nd and 3rd collections aren't released yet. Both the later books (A Kiss for the Worthy, and Rescue and Redemption) had minor flaws - a typo, spine …

an epoch (in a face mask)

not so long agowe used to argueabout womenwho covered up their faceseach time they left the house never showed themselvesin public some saidit shouldn’t be allowed some saidit was the sure signof a terroristhiding withina long skirt thenour summer of burning cameand smokefilled up all our air you couldn’t seea handheld in frontof your face …

karen’s story (as heard in the welfare line)

I was the last oneto be employed my third jobworking inhospitality but Iwas the first oneto get the call a quietsad wordfrom the manager first to goand nowall three jobsare gone I’ve got no moneybut the mortgageis duetomorrow so far I haven’t had a callto sayit’s likelyto be waived I don’t wantto cry about myselfI’m …

Aquarius: Speculative fiction inspired by the Zodiac

Big shout out to colleagues and friends at the Australian Speculative Fiction (ASF) Group. The group have been very active in promoting and supporting Australian SF writers in a whole range of ways - a very dynamic group. Among their activities has been the creation of a series of anthologies, including a Zodiac inspired series. …