States of Poetry - Poems

'Blood Poetry' by Omar Musa | States of Poetry ACT - Series One

by Omar Musa •

States of Poetry ACT - Series One

States of Poetry - Poems

'Blood Poetry' by Omar Musa | States of Poetry ACT - Series One

by Omar Musa •

States of Poetry ACT - Series One

I dip my finger in its redness –
a little wild honey for you
& a little for me,
beloved.

Each letter bears
the unmistakable scent,
the iron perfume,
the dreams of lung,
vein & the battlefield.

At the window,
trembling,
befriending trees & cats with my eyes,
whispering at the fences & the fennel.

I trace my finger on the page
& it leaves red marks:
cursive, shaped like infant breath;
bold letters, a jumble of bones,
a shotgun shell & a slap of ink.

Blood poetry,
the poetry of unease.

Omar Musa

Omar Musa

Omar Musa is a Malaysian-Australian author, rapper, and poet from Queanbeyan. He is the former winner of the Australian Poetry Slam and the Indian Ocean Poetry Slam. He has released three hip hop albums, two poetry books (including Parang), and has appeared on ABC TV's Q&A and at TEDx Sydney at the Sydney Opera House. His début novel Here Come the Dogs, was published by Penguin Australia in 2014 and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. Omar Musa was named one of the Sydney Morning Herald's Young Novelists of the Year in 2015. He is currently working on a new album and a novel.