Poetry
I write, perform and publish poetry.
My two books of poetry are available from Boris Books. Kissing Angels on the Eve of Revolution is $10, The World on My Washing Line is $12. Postage and handling additional, see Boris Books.
From Kissing Angels on the Eve of Revolution:
for the young
for the young with long, loose hair
it's easy to come running hurdles to each other's arms, eyes,
beds and secret places
straining at the knock-off bell from classrooms,
computers or conveyor belts
to nestle all night into their hidden world
of giggles, candles and condoms
being held safer than puppies
easy to brush away the morning alarm clock
roll blearily back to dreams and kisses
and be half an hour late for work
but
love doesn't always sprout on such fertile ground
it struggles up everywhere
between children and the cracked memories of an old marriage
seeking sunlight between baby-sitters, bills and begging him
to have the kids just this one weekend
organising sweet-time on the phone
between dropping one at soccer practice
and the other at a friend's
pushing roots down into soil that argues
mothers don't take time for themselves
mothers don't take lovers
mothers don't take
and the peach-faced kids
she loves like her limbs
tugging always
always
at the hem of her mind
From The World on My Washing Line:
The Revolution
The Revolution will be refused public liability insurance,
due to inadequate risk management plans.
The Revolution will have its application for use of public space
rejected by the municipal authorities,
because it is unable to provide evidence of public liability insurance.
The Revolution will be rejected for funding from government agencies,
with a letter explaining that it was a competitive field
and suggesting the Revolution seeks corporate sponsorship instead.
The Revolution will be rejected for corporate sponsorship,
because it is incompatible with the current corporate image.
The Revolution will be found to be in contravention of the 1998 Noise Abatement Act.
The Revolution will be informed it cannot proceed
without a detailed occupational health and safety policy,
and at least one trained OH &S Officer for every ten revolutionaries.
Workers will not be permitted to use special or compassionate leave
to attend the Revolution,
unless an immediate family member is killed during clashes with police.
Treatment of wounds inflicted by police during the Revolution
may be exempt from Private Health Benefits Schemes
at the express discretion of the insurer.
Costs of transport to or from pickets, riots and occupations,
gas masks and other protective clothing,
flammable liquids and other weaponry
may not be claimed as tax deductions.
Participation in the Revolution by Newstart recipients
will not be deemed as fulfilling Mutual Obligation requirements,
however any income derived from sale of goods
looted during riots will be considered assessable income.
All in all, the Revolution will be a fine thing.
the cold, hard facts
‘It’s time for ABC staff to take a cold shower, stop being molly-coddled and get a dose of the
real world.’
Right wing commentator on 2JJJ Talkback radio, May, 1996.
we’ve taken your cold showers
in August rented flats you’re waiting to re-zone
put new notches in our belts
looked long at your cold hard facts
swallowed our share of the pain
and some
but the real world
let me show you
away from yr abstract offices
here is the woman who carried me for nine months
squeezed my tiny body from hers
in great pain
just to have someone to confetti with her love
who loved me and my two sisters equally
and never pushed one of us out the front door forever
with two packets of biscuits
for each candle on our last birthday cake
because we failed to achieve efficiency benchmarks
who invested fifty thousand hours and more dollars
into each of us
knowing we would walk away into our own lives when ready
leaving no return at all
peek through the window
of this frost-bitten Ainslie rented room
where two lovers huddle under a thin stained doona
watch how they anoint kisses, caresses and compliments upon each other
with no contract guaranteeing terms
come into this garden
witness the blessed earth
give birth to weed and wheat
pansy and potato
thistle and onion
in abandoned abundance
the real world is luminous with molly-coddling
now go
design an economy
based on the reality of mothers, lovers and humus
consider the warm soft facts