Poem: The Torrens Lake Gangs

Books & Poetry

Wednesday February 19, 2014 Comments

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This poem about pecking order comes from Gareth Roi Jones, a member of the Adelaide writers’ group “dandylion collective” who is currently co-editing the latest Friendly Street Poets Annual Anthology.

The Torrens Lake Gangs

as the deep-fried air
slowly starts to cool
& the fan forced
wind disperses
the streets click
into stillness
the creek settles
into broken mirrors

ducks & divers
waddle the banks
in their dozens
alongside one
lone goose
once domesticated
renegade now
pecking
at worms, bugs
the soft ground
themselves, each other
literally anything
it seems

until raucous gangs
descend
most boisterous
the rosellas & parrots
tough guys always talking
muscling their way in
to the treetops
hang upside-down
happily chattering

until white cockies crash
with their belligerent
swagger & croaking cries
push the parrots out
start to strip the leaves
from eucalypts, poplars
& beech alike

only the long
necked black swans
seem unperturbed
by the rabble
as they glide past
the noise
then slide upwards
seeking ownership too
of the hotplate sky

Gareth Roi Jones has had his collection “Gunyah Healing” appear in the 2012 Friendly Street three-author New Poets number 17.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems up to 30 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.

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<h1>Poem: The Torrens Lake Gangs</h1>

<address><a href="https://inreview.com.au/contributors/compiled-by-john-miles/" class="author">Compiled by John Miles</a></address>
											
							This poem about pecking order comes from Gareth Roi Jones, a member of the Adelaide writers’ group “dandylion collective” who is currently co-editing the latest Friendly Street Poets Annual Anthology.
<h4><a href="#the-torrens-lake-gangs" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="the-torrens-lake-gangs"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="aal_svg" height="16" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4 9h1v1H4c-1.5 0-3-1.69-3-3.5S2.55 3 4 3h4c1.45 0 3 1.69 3 3.5 0 1.41-.91 2.72-2 3.25V8.59c.58-.45 1-1.27 1-2.09C10 5.22 8.98 4 8 4H4c-.98 0-2 1.22-2 2.5S3 9 4 9zm9-3h-1v1h1c1 0 2 1.22 2 2.5S13.98 12 13 12H9c-.98 0-2-1.22-2-2.5 0-.83.42-1.64 1-2.09V6.25c-1.09.53-2 1.84-2 3.25C6 11.31 7.55 13 9 13h4c1.45 0 3-1.69 3-3.5S14.5 6 13 6z"></path></svg></a>The Torrens Lake Gangs</h4>
as the deep-fried air 
slowly starts to cool 
& the fan forced 
wind disperses 
the streets click 
into stillness 
the creek settles 
into broken mirrors
ducks & divers 
waddle the banks 
in their dozens 
alongside one 
lone goose 
once domesticated 
renegade now 
pecking 
at worms, bugs 
the soft ground 
themselves, each other 
literally anything 
it seems
until raucous gangs 
descend 
most boisterous 
the rosellas & parrots 
tough guys always talking 
muscling their way in 
to the treetops 
hang upside-down 
happily chattering
until white cockies crash 
with their belligerent 
swagger & croaking cries 
push the parrots out 
start to strip the leaves 
from eucalypts, poplars 
& beech alike
only the long 
necked black swans 
seem unperturbed 
by the rabble 
as they glide past 
the noise 
then slide upwards 
seeking ownership too 
of the hotplate sky
Gareth Roi Jones has had his collection “Gunyah Healing” appear in the 2012 Friendly Street three-author New Poets number 17.
Readers’ original and unpublished poems up to 30 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to <a href="mailto:poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au">poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au</a>. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.
 
 
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