Jackson

My guitar is silent Waiting to be touched. Body rigid on a chrome stand. Mouth open in a frozen “O”. Strap hanging limply, embroidery adorning nothing. My guitar is silent Waiting to be touched Not knowing, not asking if my touch will be soon or distant, tender or violent. First published in WordThirst Read more

Mouth full of worlds Eyes full of swords Eyes full of eyes,        full of creeping lies              and peeping ties              and paintings, injured bloody paintings Nevertheless … Read more

pale branches stretch, stretch up,        stretch the sky you are tall you are huge your tiny babies grow slowly pale branches stretch, stretch up,        stretch the sky breathe for me stand for me think for me karri tree stretch the sky,        stretch the eye Read more

Perth, Western Australia, 1994 A Baptist wedding, minister a game-show host, sleazing over the decorative bridesmaids, joking with the model-boy groomsmen. “Obey” was bad enough, but this 18-year-old vows to submit! “Submit to him in everything.” My vision blurs with bruises. And he and she are told to commit, and sacrifice themselves to a life Read more

It softly touches the bricks at its edge, a gentle but definite border. The bricks say        You can’t come past here!        This is our flower bed! The lawn says        OK, I won’t        but let me look. The bricks let it look. First published in Pixel Papers Read more

The clattering, jabbering, echoing train Diesel in the air, on my tongue, in my nose The shuddering, rattling, lumbering train Flashing, enormous, storming in close to the wet flesh of my neck on the rail. Read more