original poem

Here it is…

My new chapbook – Shorely – is here to download (just click the image) – or if you want the printed version visit Ginninderra Press (Australian purchases only I’m afraid).

Shorely is a collection of recent poetry looking shorewards. More than 85% of settler Australians live within a half-hour drive of the coast – we’re a nation that loves looking at the shore. These poems explore that gaze – from the drowning of a Prime Minister, to a trashed coastal environment, to the trans-oceanic journey of a favourite root vegetable. I hope you enjoy Shorely.

Thanks to everyone who read and commented on earlier versions of these poems, particularly Ross Gillett, editor, mentor and poet. You can find some of his marvellous poetry here.

Shorely – my first chapbook

Later this month, the wonderful Ginninderra Press are publishing my first chapbook ‘Shorely’ as part of their Pocket Poets series.

‘Shorely’ has 24 pages of my favourite poems from the last year or so brought together in one volume including this one.

In the next few days, I’ll publish a copy here for you to download for free but if you want the real deal, visit Ginninderra’s website and pick up some terrific Australian poetry.

Image: Mural, Port Kembla Olympic Pool.

cumulonimbus to the max

sometime soon
the afternoon monsoon
massy clouds will let go
feathered vapour becomes stun-gun
pelts — school-kids, nuns on bicycles, ponies and peonies heavy heads down
all us plain-living things — with life (L…I…F…E…)
gouts and over-spouts 
your embrace leaves me drenched
thunder down the hallway.  

Image: Margaret Barr’s “Strange Children” [ballet], 1955 / photographer unknown c/- State Library of NSW
Margaret Barr (29 November 1904 – 29 May 1991) was a choreographer and teacher of dance-drama who worked in the United States, England, New Zealand and Australia. During a career of more than sixty years, she created over eighty works.

A quadrille for Dverse where De is hosting and asks us to use the word ‘go’ in our 44 word poem.

And for those of you thawing out from too much winter, here’s Monsoon feat. Sheila Chandra from 1982 with Ever So Lonely