A. Frances Johnson

'Sea Level' by A. Frances Johnson | States of Poetry Vic - Series One

States of Poetry Victoria - Series One • 22 February 2016

You can't see water beyond the highway hoardings, but you are told Jesus walked on it. This is your best clue. Dinner settings, security doors, Viagra and tractor parts flash past like signed miracles. But you feel something pull, not daintily at your sleeve, but with tidal will,a blood rush of stark equations of space and gravity you cannot hope to solve. When you get there, sea fills out the w ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2016 - Victoria | 'Diary of an Anti-elegist' by A. Frances Johnson

States of Poetry Victoria - Series One • 22 February 2016

1.Even poetry dements in the end; fatal attractions to dank earthand ash albums don't fool or buy time. Poetry cherry-picks memory for its own ends; yet that's a medicated narcissism for some. Earnest elegies are often rejected by dogs and children.Listen to them howl. Voting for life outside of ritual.I'm on your side; I'm with the hounds and the kids. I won't let elegymake you over into a bad oi ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2016 - Victoria | 'Australian awe: white guys on life and art before 1788' by A. Frances Johnson

States of Poetry Victoria - Series One • 22 February 2016

for Marcia Langton   The rock-art guide, combustingin 43 degrees, back to image.His sloppy dreamtimea melted ice-cream,far from refrigerated sublime. Gwion rock art from the 'Tassel era' is happy art,though contentiously attributed and dated, he says,authoritative white sweater in white sweater.Pompoms, plumes and tassels signal the fertile time before the great aridity.Your stone heart, W ... (read more)

'Weight' a new poem by A. Frances Johnson

March 2015, no. 369 • 01 March 2015

It is a kind of sleep we must learn,seasonal as spiders, our bodiesweights no web can hold. ... (read more)

'Soar', a new poem by A. Frances Johnson

November 2013, no. 356 • 31 October 2013

... (read more)