Excited today to learn that my poem Saddle Dreaming, which was written in memory of my grandfather took out 3rd prize in the Words out West Banjo Patterson Literary Awards. You can read more here: http://wordsoutwest.com.au/media/newsMedia.cfm
The poem is not published at the site, so here it is:
Saddle dreaming
Out here, he might find the shape of her face
in a night basin speckled with stars
just by purchasing shares in the thought of her,
a lifetime south in Gunggeri territory
Wife
She’s a vignette back there, with five children
topped and tailed in two small rooms,
shadow-formed; getting by on instinct
Sleep pulls through her like an accordion
Next time, before regret can come into it
he might leave off the drink, and whisper her
a homecoming as sweet as wood-smoke
Next time
A dog’s bark slices through the morning pink,
as day cups the edges of the Gulf country
It won’t be long now, til it begins again
Saddle dreaming drenched in sun violence,
and the miles of emptiness drawn out between.
