Books & Poetry

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Poem: The Four of Us

Books & Poetry

In today’s Poet’s Corner Kristin Martin contributes a poem from her new book ‘Paint the Sky’.

Compiled by John Miles

Wednesday May 10, 2017

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The Four of Us

Do you remember that evening,
so many moons ago,
when we built a bonfire on the beach,
back when the council permitted such things,
and roasted marshmallows,
which burnt,
but biting through the carbon shell we found
melted sweetness?

And do you remember when I said we should go back
to the house,
because even though it was summer it wasn’t warm,
one of you replied,
No, let’s wait until the moon rises?

Do you remember how we stayed
and told jokes
and made up tales about the builders of the other
beach bonfires
and their imagined devious plans,
which made us laugh;
even more than the jokes,
so much that our faces hurt?

Do you remember how we waited until the fire burnt low,
until just the red coals remained
which we doused in sea water then buried deep in the
soft sand,
because despite our silly tales we were sensible at heart?

And do you remember how,
when we trudged over the sand dunes,
we spotted the moon,
hours above the horizon?

But did you know
that evening has stayed in my memory
all these years?

And did you know I am forever thankful
for that sand dune hiding the moon
so that I could form this precious memory of
the four of us?

Kristin Martin lives with her family in Adelaide, where she spends much of her time “admiring the clouds”. Her poems have been published in anthologies and magazines, on websites and in art exhibitions around Australia. Today’s poem comes from her first book collection “Paint the Sky”, reviews of which can be found here.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.