Vogue

My Nana was a model
for Vogue, or similar.
Courted by rich Charlie Evans,
but married lucky Bruce
after the war.
Her brother Jack had the shakes
and she lived in a two bedroom house
with Bruce,
and her two daughters,
and her five sons,
and their dog, KB.
They lived on scratchings,
and piled into the family van,
and had enough members for a family team
of anything.

She potters 'round now, in a house with more bedrooms than before, and seven less companions. She still looks great from every angle.

Mother May

Voice filling rooms,
Hands snuffing lights,
Laughter, bouncing and
Eyes smiling:
My mother is a sun
that refuses to set.

She wakes us, in new places.
Always on time.
Ready for adventure.

Lipton Iced Tea.

This peach iced tea* is
making me forget the bruise
that is slowly blooming on
my bottom lip.
*[Lipton.]
You bite my lip to keep my attention.
Or is it to remind you
that I am still solid?
Either way,
the flavour fills your absence,
and the tenderness makes me turn
(on my heel)
and run back to you.

I never found your god.

It is the early hours of the morning and I have remembered that I am godless.

---

I remember days in a tin ship that you and I went exploring, through Blackheath, and secret lookouts in Katoomba. You dug your worn fingers into grooves of rock faces and climbed all over the goddamn place. Pulled yourself close, and held on for dear life to those products of nature's wearing. A gift from your god, you'd probably think to yourself, as you'd grasp at a new hold. I would always wonder, "a hold on what?" I would search the stone cliffs at our horizons and find beauty in the moment. You'd find it in the material.

I don't exactly remember the moment I began to carve you from the marble. I chiseled to find the refined jaw, and admirable features. I carved you as my David. I built your plinth and excavated the floor from under you, flinging myself to my knees at the bottom. All I saw was the light, and all I felt was cold stone. You said I was godless. Your Delilah. No intent toward a god filled life. I believe those were the words. I cut from you, your strength. You could never have been more wrong. I just never found your god.

---

I now find myself comfortable in my agnosticism.

amongst the thousands

I wish to be astounding.
The brightest star
amongst the thousands.
Alive in my well wishes,
my sympathies,
my congratulations.
Little fingers would point
into the black
at the light
and ask: [with a whisper]

"Who is she?"

And their fathers will reply,
children high on their shoulders

"She? She is astounding."

Please

hold onto my words
when I am tired.
they slip from my mouth:
and if you don't keep them,
I don't know where
they would go.

"home," you would expect,
but I wouldn't think
to look there.

Into the city, I run.

Women don't love, they just try to be fair,
And the ladies will pick you apart:
It's the girls that you need
With their tangible hearts
Who'll run to you, no matter where.


Into the city, I run.