Congratulations to David Cookson, winner, November 2021 Poem of the Month, as selected by 2021 FSP Anthology editors, Louise Nicholas and Judy Dally.
And a reminder… any last submissions of poems read during the year at any of Friendly Street’s reading opportunities must be received by December 31, 2021, to be considered for inclusion in the next anthology. You should use the on-line submission form via the following link:
https://friendlystreetpoets.org.au/publications/fsp-annual-anthology/
Overture for Winter by David Cookson
The breeze grows claws,
rakes the ocean with a colder green.
Sun from a Turner seascape
battles with shadows as I trudge home
beneath hangdog casuarinas,
my hair matted by salt spray.
A portent of cloud
wraps a grey cloak around the cape.
In a giddiness of dead leaves
the wind swings sou’west
unleashes the storm;
a vengeful djinn
which brawls around the house
tramples across the roof
smashes at windows
with haymakers of rain.
I shiver, bolt the door,
peel away my summer face;
spin a cocoon with polo necks,
the warmth of Bach’s ‘cello,
a teetering stack of books.