I lived in addiction
on the brink
clawed myself back
to a safe haircut
and admin
until
I lost myself
like
ocean weed in the sea?
somewhere
in the
midst of
competing priorities
some days
it’s a grey fog
oh come on
it’s just a
job, job, job
Oh, I was soaring over
the headland once
a kestrel
redgold edged
against blue
now I’m
smashing against
the wrong side of right
searching for
whatthefuck knows who
Photo by Michael van Gorkum on Unsplash
birdtrack
skythreat
heartcrack
the wave swirls upwards
to greet me
I swear it knows
what i need
wish it would tell me
out loud
waterwords
are hard to read
Photo: Claire Doble
a nightbird calls outside my window
I am sick, so sick in the dark
it’s 4.24 on the morning of your funeral
life makes no sense, there is only love
you talk to everyone at the party
buy them gifts, exchange views
share laughs, drinks, stories
my only conversation is with you
grab my phone to check messages
that remain forever unread
missed your call, I miss you: indelible
a nightbird’s sick joke you’re dead
Photo: Sierra Narvaeth on Unsplash
under a bushfire sun
tumbled in love
for a moment
with a footprint in the sand
sharp big-toe
like a spade, a trowel
I thought
of salt-touselled hair
a broad board
under sun-brown arms
light shining from
sea spray
running past
her trapped wing
half buried
desperate, poignant
flying here
smoke-choked
feather-singed
to die
Photo: Claire Doble
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