Merlinda Bobis

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'After Reming' by Merlinda Bobis

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

After Reming Super typhoon 2006 ‘Purple.Unlike any that I’ve seen,’Mother says.‘Behind an iron gatebeside an immense holeon the ground,but no house.’ She pauses,and I’m suddenlybeside the purplebehind the gatein the holein the house,led by the definite article,thus definitively placed: it is no accident,this urge of composition,as in the writingof a poemwhen I compose myselfinto th ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'An argument in glass' by Merlinda Bobis

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

An argument in glass For Jenni Kemarre Martiniello,Aboriginal glassmaker As you hold me,you think your fingers knowI’m glass magic,this slip and slide on cool satin,then suddenly I’m waterand an eternity of greens —O song of sea flowers,you make drowningbeautiful.Or so you say. But what of other shadesor shadows? From umber to gumnut brown,we are the ancient coralsthat you presume are de ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'Lucy afloat' by Merlinda Bobis

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

Lucy afloat After the scattering of ashesPulpit Rock, 26 November 2014 And then the lighton these layers of grief,grit, glowthat make a rock. From blinding whiteto ochre soft, then rustand pinkrunning into each other —who knows which colour came firstor if the glow camebefore the gritbefore the grief? Not even the rock knowsthe secrets of its chronology. It is we who lookwho think we knowor ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'The colour of eyes' by Merlinda Bobis

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

The colour of eyes For Banduk Marika, Aboriginal artist 1. After your story of the funeral, August 1991 Black, Banduk, is the colour of eyeslike night shrunkwhen grandma tidies after grief.Perhaps she could not spillto stain the room. Black, Banduk,this quaver fistedin her throat –it has no moon,it aches with too much swallowing.There is no voiceto bruise the air. You thinkshe wills it neat ... (read more)

States of Poetry 2017 - ACT | 'After the Grand Canyon' by Merlinda Bobis

States of Poetry ACT - Series Two • 22 February 2016

After the Grand Canyon 18 October 2014   It’s an accidentof composition: sun, sky, bird.White orb on storm greypunctuated by a raven –but which composes which,and which is accidental?Is it the suna holesucking in a bird,or Icarus aboutto singe the sun?Against the greyboth soft and sinister,anything is possible.Look: barely a thumbspanbetweensun and birdbefore the answer is given.Enough ... (read more)