Poem of the Month, July 2016: “Gale” by Susan O’Brien

GALE

The roistering gale from the West
shrieks round building walls
and summons sheet metal thunder
from the rain water tanks
We are besieged by sound.

Trees on the far ridge whip and flail,
drunken cheer leaders against shredding sky,
hailstone missiles streak
through horizontal rain

I more deeply understand
the welcome swallows’ nest:
under the widest eave,
plastered to the wall
even now
it is safe in the wind shadow

Startled out of sleep at three a.m.
we pull on clothes
in case, in case….
but our house too holds steady
there is no need to flee
into the maelstrom…

Sleep again overtakes us

At first light the silence shocks:
survivors are stunned but standing
the fallen indeed are fallen
and sadly, amongst their silent ranks
our Number One Yacca is down

Here before white settlement
prized for food and tinder
for weapons and glue
survivor of roaring bush fires –
resin rubies shining
between charred leaf bases,
this one legged ancient
finally felled
by the blow and suck of air.… Click for more

Blackout cancels FSP Featured Poets @ Halifax Cafe in September: Stephen Brock & Nathan Curnow

In case you hadn’t noticed, the massive storm-induced power blackout that hit SA forced the cancellation of this session. We’ll see what we can do to re-run it at some stage. Tough for the poets, the cafe and the punters, but that’s the weather for you…

 

 

steve-brock_nathan-curnow

This month’s FSP Featured Poets @ Halifax Cafe presents Adelaide’s own Stephen Brock and, from Ballarat, Nathan Curnow.

Wednesday, 28th September, 2016

Halifax Cafe, 187 Halifax Street, Adelaide, 6:00 – 7:30 pm.

 Stephen Brock

published his first collection of poetry The Night is a Dying Dog (Wakefield Press) in 2007, and received a grant from Arts SA for the completion of Double Glaze, published by Five Islands Press in 2013.… Click for more

Special reading at Halifax Cafe, Saturday, 10th September, 11am.

Come along to a special poetry reading featuring

Paul Mitchell, Jan Owen, Louise Nicholas and Peter Goldsworthy 

at the fabulous Halifax Cafe, 187 Halifax Street, Adelaide.

Saturday, September 10, from 11am.

Paul Mitchell’s wry and moving considerations of society’s undercurrents chronicle a soberingly recognisable Australia. His three poetry collections have received national prizes and wide acclaim, and his short story collection Dodging the Bull (2007) was included in the 2008 The Age Summer Read program. Mitchell explores the beauty in the seemingly mundane, the troubled history of Australian masculinity, and finds spirituality in the murky depths of life. He has continued this exploration with his fifth book, a simultaneously sensitive and rugged novel, We.Are.Family.… Click for more

Mockingbird Poets

Mockingbird Poets is friendly new poetry critique group for beginners and seasoned poets alike. Opening up on 17 September, if you love poetry, you are welcome.

To get us going at the first meeting, bring a poem of your own to share with the group, or one by your favorite poet. We can then discuss the way forward. The aim is to find a format that will best engage us in a process of constructive analysis and discussion through which we can learn more about the art and craft of poetry and improve our own work.

Lindy Warrell* will convene to start but, as time goes on, others may wish to take turns chairing so everyone has the opportunity to introduce a favorite poem and poet, allowing us to explore the richness and diversity of the poetic life.… Click for more

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