Leaving: 1, 2, 3 – a reading

. . . and just like that! Here it is! My reading of the poem Leaving: 1, 2, 3. I hope you enjoy it. I will also pop in the link for my reading of the poem coming, which was included in the previous year's anthology. Check out the books. Buy one if they appeal …

A new treasure

Today, I'm delighted to share a new treasure that came in the mail yesterday. Some readers here will recall that I'm a regular attender (or try to be) at the annual Rainforest Writing Retreat (RWR) held up a mountain at a place called Oreilly's in Queensland. For two years running I've not been able to …

watery

I am the bait I catchmyself I hold the linehaulmy self in hold tightthe linesettlein the saddle let’s ride let's ride make those bubblesblowblowblow carpmy trusty steed carpmake duehaste where we are goingI am the bait take me downbelow leap meinto sky let’s movelike a lightning strike and water boil water steam we can make …

only that child

look at me mama here I am what do you see I cannot tell you have hidden your eyes from me concealed your face am I so unseemly to you is it my sins you see too clear mama would that I could see you again sometimes I am still the child no more than …

big girl (on the tiles) now

daddy I . . . oh daddy I . . . I was on my own he was passing by he’s really not my kind that tawny guy ah daddy you . . . don’t be so mean don’t be cross with me don’t yowl me down he would never do me harm well daddy …

than tomorrow (as a gift)

blue for you tied up in a bow does it rattle inside does it sound like a little scratching is it alive like an itch that won’t behave in middle night is it perhaps a star as depicted on the paper is there a glow seeping out between the folds a stellar thing a gift …

anytime (anytime) at all

and who can say about change who can tell what will be I live here upon the ground I dream of the sky who can say tomorrow could be anything I might be anyone at all I might grow my own wings I might rise up on just a breath of air how will . …

wicker (spring) women

hey sister hey hold my hand sister hey take mine in yours and sway feel the breeze call out your name feel the wind touch you hey hey hey let us dance wicker women now let's dance hey hey (hey hey) hey hey rustle creak and bend this way and hey hey hey wicker women …

splash! (the garden)

I draw my water from the well it falls a long way into the black sometimes my bucket takes a small forever the rope unravels so on and on will it stop this time will it fall and fall to be one with the black no the water calls out a steady voice a minor …

waiting for the day (airtight)

I breathe from my O2 tank I hear the air as it hisses past a valve feel it inside my throat a welcome stranger out here the night is still is black the night is forever everywhere but I trust in my airtight suit I trust in every seal and join I trust every god …