After answering the Next Big Thing questions, I have had the urge to post a preview of the work, I, Land. Here’s the first three parts for you to enjoy:
*****
Far from the howl
of children and sirens
we found music in
the wind’s toothless mouth
moored our boat
long ago, left it to the weather —
abandoned all plans of
sailing home.
***
A heron drifting up from the river
this morning means nothing; it disappears
back into the mangroves.
The sky is empty, my mouth is dry.
On the dune where I sit beneath she-oaks
a few feathers are scattered.
I let my skin fall to the ground:
become sand, salt, sky.
***
A lone osprey pays us
an early visit from the mainland
long before the first storms
of summer have formed, gliding
high over she-oak and fig
great nesting territory
is harried by a daredevil
troop of gulls, small-jawed
disembowellers trying to
drive their imposing cousin out
of this private airspace.
Really, really like this. Feels like a lot of care and thought going into choosing all the right words – not ‘a good line here or there’, but getting it right each time. I guess that’s the result of being patient with your work (I tend to try to push something out minutes after writing something
) Looking forward to reading the full piece!
You’ve outdone yourself, GN. This is an absolute gem
Jammi waiting now.
As everyone has noted…excellent poetry.
The struggles of life make for great poetry
Effectively bleak introduction Graham – I look forward to the whole work.
‘Great nesting territory’. I love everything about that. (I go out of town for two days and return to all these Lost Shark gems! Perhaps I should leave town more often.)
Beautiful imagery Graham.
Thank you Jane! Hope you are well and truly settled in to the new year!
Looking forward to this, Graham – wonderful taste of what’s to come!