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ARTS AND CULTURE

Ten poems: From Woman in Bushfire to man in Sea of Tranquillity

  • 11 July 2007

Woman in Bushfire High over her a 'copter is Pouring pylons of water, Transient stands In shifting fire. She dwindles, Becomes a tiny tot Drizzling the gutters Of her doll's house. J. K. Murphy The Horse Races The sound of the horse races is my father’s music. The names of the horses are his worlds. They are pregnant with prophecy, live in short breaths and green fingered gasps. They die away at the turn, worlds die away, it’s simpler than you’d think. Jennifer Finlay Cheek to Cheek in Omeo, early 1970s. the locals thronged to the young farmers' ball after supper they dimmed the lights in the hall so the brylcreemed and perfumed and sleek could try to be daring and dance cheek to cheek but our generation's idea of a ball was not family orchestras in the town hall for we would slink down to livingstone creek kick off our levis and swim cheek to cheek Geoff Baker Hidden by ambition We make love Dress the kids Eat and shower Sweep and clean Deep in life’s fog Little knowing That this is it It’s simple It’s special A soft dream Hidden by ambition Bruce Shearer To listen to this poem, click here. The Ways of It You could take other paths or just stay put throw back a ring or choose to wear it flick the forked tongue or keep your counsel You might act differently next time if there's a next time You have or you haven't done this or done that Do you leap or linger Lerys Byrnes Hawaiian Stilts When you see those birds, Stilted and statuesque in the rushes And know that they have journeyed From Alaska, You suddenly understand That your flights, As uncomfortable as they are, Are minor miracles, Theirs are grand, Delicate and durable Their legs would never fold Into the sliced space We are asked to inhabit: Nature eludes artifice. Peter Gebhardt Silence How easily this word can be traumatised by the simple addition of a “d”. Terry Veling Unusual Partners Beer and didgeredoo juxtaposed on Smith sun shining People in buses arriving to shop cautious window banking and safeway brimming with a diverse air nocturnal buskers daytime players the soft windy hollow of the instrument against raw life in the street Rose Heard Rush Hour On the South-Eastern Freeway a semi-trailer has rolled into the sky splintering the sun blocking the