In November, Nigel Ford and Rob Ferris attended the annual meeting of the Edward’s Crossing Writers group, a regional FSP group based in Murray Bridge (originally called “Edward’s Crossing” in the 19 century). The meeting included an Open Mic from which the 2023 Anthology Editors, Rob Ferris and Maria Vouis, selected a Poem of the Month, Men Of Yemen by Max Merckenschlager and three commended poems: Flinders Ranges – 2009 by Elizabeth Bell; Unravelled by Di Walton and Music of the Earth by Lynette Zander. Congratulations!
Men Of Yemen
Max Merckenschlager
Ali the sportsmaster and school disciplinarian
took my hand in his
and lead me unselfconsciously
to where I’d sought directions.
And did a human current pass between us?
And did he sense a sweating of my palm?
And did our students stop their chat to watch us?
I think not.
Later in the souk
men in skirts embraced and kissed
and walked off holding hands
as I observed and mused
“What’s normal?”
Flinders Ranges – 2009
Elizabeth Bell
In this lonely graveyard
Louise,
Beloved wife of Francis,
You have slept
For over one hundred and thirty winters.
Your unnamed twin sons laid beside you,
Your third decade un-reached,
What brought you here?
Did you stumble, fall,
Without help,
Weeping,
See your hopes – lifeless – born?
Exhausted, you then followed?
Or did your last winter so chill the valley
That you succumbed to a wracking ague
Ancient potions could not heal?
Your headstone bids you all to ‘Rest In Peace’;
I pray you do!
Unravelled
Di Walton
I knit one
I pearl one
I wrench the wool
And it all unravels
Knit one
Pearl one
Wrench unravel
I make a move
I make another
I fear the worst
And it all unravels
Knit one
Pearl one
Wrench unravel
I lose my hope
I lose my will
I lose my way
And it all unravels
Knit one
Pearl one
Wrench unravel
I choose a path
I choose another
I change my pattern
Before it all unravels
Knit one
Pearl one
Cast off – complete.
Music of the Earth
Lynette Zander
Nature does not
share her secrets
with the loud
with the chatty
she shares her secrets
amidst the silence
Animals stir
birds flutter
the mutterings of night
become clear
nature speaks
for the earth lives
In the tranquillity of night
one can hear
the earth moving
the dying
the renewal, the birth
of countless things
Grains of sand dribble
rocks slide
trees murmur, groan
you can hear
the earth stirring
hear it breathe
If one could collate
the sounds
of the earth shifting
the speakings of night
introduce them
with clarity to the ear
one would hear
the rhythm
of the earth evolving
The trickles
the murmurs
the falls
harmonizing as one
infinitely
majestic symphony
that would captivate
the ears of man