Poems: Hoodlums & Riverbank Way

Books & Poetry

In this week’s Poet’s Corner, JV Birch writes of Adelaide’s birdlife, from her first impression of rainbow lorikeets to feathered friends encountered during lunchtime walks around Lake Torrens.

Wednesday February 17, 2016 Comments

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Hoodlums

rainbow lorikeets

Out here they holler too much
all colour
movement
and show.
Litter themselves and each other.
Trash flowers
split sky
pick on those smaller
gorge on anything ready.

They never sleep
just rest
the odd grunt and shuffle
prepare
to thump through with morning.

Riverbank Way

The ducks meet about the swans
there’s a show of wings for action.

The moorhens aren’t invited
gossip on the sidelines
shush one another when the swans go by.

The seagulls don’t care
catcall from above
get bored and go looking for people.

The swans pretend not to notice
drift with silent intent
stretch their necks for that bit more beak.

The river just smiles and rolls over
belly to the sun.

JV Birch is from Britain but living in Adelaide. Her poems have appeared in journals, magazines and anthologies in Australia, the UK, Canada and the US. Her new chapbook collection, Smashed Glass at Midnight, is in the Picaro Poets Series from Adelaide’s Ginninderra Press. JV blogs at www.jvbirch.wordpress.com.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.

Photo credit: Lance/flickr

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<h1>Poems: Hoodlums & Riverbank Way</h1>

<p><p>In this week’s Poet’s Corner, JV Birch writes of Adelaide’s birdlife, from her first impression of rainbow lorikeets to feathered friends encountered during lunchtime walks around Lake Torrens.</p>
</p>
																		<address><a href="https://inreview.com.au/contributors/compiled-by-john-miles/" class="author">Compiled by John Miles</a></address>
											
							<h2><a href="#hoodlums" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="hoodlums"><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><strong>Hoodlums</strong></h2>
<p><em>rainbow lorikeets</em></p>
<p>Out here they holler too much<br />
all colour<br />
movement<br />
and show.<br />
Litter themselves and each other.<br />
Trash flowers<br />
split sky<br />
pick on those smaller<br />
gorge on anything ready.</p>
<p>They never sleep<br />
just rest<br />
the odd grunt and shuffle<br />
prepare<br />
to thump through with morning.</p>
<h2><a href="#riverbank-way" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="riverbank-way"><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><strong>Riverbank Way</strong></h2>
<p>The ducks meet about the swans<br />
there’s a show of wings for action.</p>
<p>The moorhens aren’t invited<br />
gossip on the sidelines<br />
shush one another when the swans go by.</p>
<p>The seagulls don’t care<br />
catcall from above<br />
get bored and go looking for people.</p>
<p>The swans pretend not to notice<br />
drift with silent intent<br />
stretch their necks for that bit more beak.</p>
<p>The river just smiles and rolls over<br />
belly to the sun.</p>
<p><em>JV Birch is from Britain but living in Adelaide. Her poems have appeared in journals, magazines and anthologies in Australia, the UK, Canada and the US. </em><em>Her new chapbook collection, <strong><a href="http://www.ginninderrapress.com.au/Picaro%20Press/picaropoets.html">Smashed Glass at Midnight</a>,</strong> is in the Picaro Poets Series from Adelaide’s Ginninderra Press. </em><em>JV blogs at </em><em>www.jvbirch.wordpress.com.</em></p>
<h5><a href="#readers-original-and-unpublished-poems-of-up-to-40-lines-can-be-emailed-with-postal-address-to-poetscornersolsticemedia-com-au-a-poetry-book-will-be-awarded-to-each-contributor" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="readers-original-and-unpublished-poems-of-up-to-40-lines-can-be-emailed-with-postal-address-to-poetscornersolsticemedia-com-au-a-poetry-book-will-be-awarded-to-each-contributor"><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>Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.</h5>
<h6><a href="#photo-credit-lance-flickr" aria-hidden="true" class="aal_anchor" id="photo-credit-lance-flickr"><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>Photo credit: Lance/flickr</h6>
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