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Books & Poetry

Poems: Preserving memories & Browsing blues

Books & Poetry

This week’s Poet’s Corner features two contrasting poems from Geoffrey Aitken.

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Preserving memories

I visited a memory
of childhood curiosity
at my grandmother’s
cracked kitchen door
where late summer aromas
coalesced,
in a sugary, apricot haze
in a pan atop the stove
awaiting mother and daughter’s
coaxing of rich ripe fruits
into tasty, spreadable jams
sealed in oven sterilized jars
arousing that anticipation
of greedy indulgent consumption
on home-made Sunday scones

how long does a door
remain ajar?

Browsing blues

I don’t browse or shop
our outer suburban
high street
with a big budget
but,
I often purchase
from local traders
who exhibit regional taste
adorning my small cottage then
with artisan production,
reflecting shared love
albeit, sometimes I feel –

the day takes me for granted.

Geoffrey Aitken has lived on the Fleurieu Peninsula since retirement in 2016. A former tradesman fitter, and mature-graduate senior school English teacher, he also lived, worked and taught in the Northern Territory for 30 years. His poems have been published in a number of print and online journals in Australia, the UK and US, and he was one of the three featured poets in the 2018 edition of Friendly Street Poets’ ‘New Poets Series’, details of which can be found here. He reads at open mics, and with wife Jenny also runs ‘Poetry Feasting,’ a joint poetry and culinary website.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au.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.

 

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