Hidden Author
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Ellen van Neerven reads her poem 'Chips' which features in the 2016 Queensland anthology.
Chips
Can I saywhite people really bore me sometimesto be exactI grow tired with what's unmentionedidling in surf club bathroomsnothing wrong with the chipsbut they're talking about Tasmaniamy thoughts haunted by islandsmaybe I' ... (read more)
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Ellen van Neerven reads her poem 'Roo tails' which features in the 2016 Queensland anthology.
Roo tails
The ground felt like it did when it's about to storm. My feet were brown and my big toe blistered. My grandmother was talking to my grandfather. A wet patch on my grandmother's back. Her hands roping those tails al ... (read more)
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Ellen van Neerven reads her poem 'Love and Tradition' which features in the 2016 Queensland anthology.
Love and Tradition
for Aunty Nancy Bamaga
rising seatakes andbreaks into backyardsto trouble families
we cannot livewith the seas in our bellieswe cannot restwith the sea at our legs
the tideis comingto strokeour ... (read more)
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Barbara Temperton reads her poem 'My Mother's Ravens' which features in the 2016 Western Australian anthology.
My Mother's Ravens
They toll hours. I trace the peak and trough of raven-callthrough brick veneer walls to the hospital – an hour away –with every throaty rattle, to my Aunt, morphinepump filtering sleep ... (read more)
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Barbara Temperton reads her poem 'West Coast' which features in the Western Australian anthology.
West Coast
I drive in on Daylight Saving Timewith a pale, fat moon risingover the Moresby Ranges.New subdivision: Ocean Heights Estate?It looks like Sandcastle Land.
Foreshore duneslimestone-terraced into sharp ledges:h ... (read more)
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Barbara Temperton reads her poem 'Anniversary' which features in the 2016 Western Australian anthology.
Anniversary
We've been in mourning just over a year,or just under, depending on the date we're marking.Not always celebrations, anniversarieshave a way of keeping their appointments:they're ticked off at the level ... (read more)
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Barbara Temperton reads her poem 'Foxes Lair' which features in the 2016 Western Australian anthology.
Foxes Lair
Casuarina leaves disable the dog.He halts on the track ahead, scratches,then sits and sulks, his undercarriagea matt of clinging tendrils.My hands prickle with casuarina scalesso small they're almost unse ... (read more)
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Barbara Temperton introduces her poetry collection, 'Ghost Nets' (working title), and reads the title poem which features in the 2016 Western Australian anthology.
Ghost Nets
Evening, at the edge of the reefa ghost net snags my fishing line.Lead-core line is made to last and oftenbraided round plastic craypots tumbli ... (read more)
In this episode of Australian Book Review's States of Poetry podcast, Adrian Caesar reads two poems, 'Charlotte's Grace' and 'Spring Fall' which both feature in the 2016 ACT anthology.
Charlotte's Grace
(For my grand-daughter)
Coming in with stones from the gardenyour first impulse is to make them shine.Washing rocks, you call it, and give themfull treatment, soap and flannel and rins ... (read more)