Upload
phillip-a-ellis
View
213
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
1/10
MelaleucaNumber 3: September 2009 Editor: Phillip A. Ellis
Table of Contents
Demise Susan Adams 3
Gift Susan Adams 4
On the Train to Kiama Susan Adams 5
Kredo/Credo Phillip A. Ellis
translation by L. S. Fisher
6
Powers L. S. Fisher 7
I Delight in the Dark L. S. Fisher 8
Ghazal of the Barber's Shop Rae Desmond Jones 9
Winter Ghazal Rae Desmond Jones 10
All works are copyright by their respective creators, 2009; the arrangement of this collection is
copyright by Phillip A. Ellis, 2009.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works
2.5 Australia License .
1
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
2/10
2
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
3/10
Demise
We are the noise
of men
dogs running steps
to water
we swim our thirst.Sky on sea on sky
there is no in between
weare the ether
the strident is just
a vapour
but toxins spread
on air.
Susan Adams
3
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
4/10
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
5/10
On The Train to Kiama
You're looking at rats on an island -
or 'look-a-likes'
on mine I search for rope colours
with matching shrouds -
for poems.
Well Mother, smother or slather me
you took my breath away
still - I cannot breathe.
You turned the compass around
redirected mail - Atlantis never
did sink we nest amongst
palms and parakeets. When the bells
tolled we didn't ask
every day was Sunday.
Head took over the electrics
after a visit by the twin,
the weaning of woo began.
History fought to free itself,
a trip on sabbatical where Doona warmth
of frivolity was cold weave with its breathiness.
The ballerina and the music box
were allowed to wind down
by fingers that forgot to water the future
gung-ho with new skills not yet honed.
We limp to your return, burnt hands on the barre
needing the rest of us.
This freedom was shallow.
We had loved and shelled ourselves,
needing more than sun-screen protection.
Our stories anything we wanted from them
our only definition was 'us'.Chameleons in wardrobes of dress-up clothes
lover finds lover
just another painted layer -
even horses wear coats down here.
Susan Adams
5
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
6/10
Kredo
Mi ne timas la matenon, mi ne timas la sunlumon,
mi ne timas la tagon, la tarentelojn de morto,
la skorpiojn de la memo, mia divido
el la mondon, mia mondon kaj realecon.
Mi naos, ne arko de nokto, ne petromizo--
tio nodo de tropoj de la limo--
tra la fluoj kaj la riveroj de la vero en mia
mondo, mia mondo kaj realeco.
Phillip A. Ellis
Credo
I do not fear the morning, I do not fear the sunlight,
I do not fear the day, the tarantellas of death,
the scorpions of the self, my splitfrom the world, my world and reality.
I will swim, no night's shark, no lamprey--
that knot of the slime's tropes--
through the flows and the rivers of the truth
in my world, my world and reality.
translated by:L. S. Fisher
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
7/10
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
8/10
I Delight in the Dark
I delight
in the dark,
when all the stars
shine like Mars;
when, at night,coldness is stark,
I delight
in the dark.
L. S. Fisher
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
9/10
Ghazal of the Barber's Shop
Photo: Italia / Campione Del Mondo 2006,
Ha! All of that indestructible juicy potency.
Bolder (even) than all the sultry young men
With airbrushed hair around the wall.
The line of ancient warriors on their seats
Glower mildly into the marbled mirror -
Watch closely the shelves of oil, pomades,
Scissors & a fluted silver black blow drier.
There rests the razor, there stands
The grizzled shaving brush, with fretted hairs.
The barber severs a mop of dark lustrous hair& it descends in clumps to the grey slate floor.
Rae Desmond Jones
7/28/2019 Melaleuca 003
10/10
Winter Ghazal
As dark clouds press down the earth
The gas heater whispers & sighs,
Those yellow brick flats up the hill
Stare down with open eyed surprise;
As white underwear flaps languidly
On the verandahs, our world turns slow.
Breathe warm beneath your blanket,
Listen as the mouse rattles in the ceiling.
Soon it will be Spring & the flats
Will be alive with bright, light clothes.
Rae Desmond Jones