Ocean Fog
If it had a face
it would be of the old apiarist,
almost asleep, arms crossed in ribbed sunlight
so that only the heavy grey
head rises and falls, rises and falls on each breath.
He pretends to be smoke
calming the innermost spasm of the bee’s instinct
to kill to protect
revealing a weightless desire for emptiness.
Overhead, a grey heron, blown out of molten glass,
solidifies with dawn.
It has come into
a sharper world.
Oh my love –
every boat is out at sea.
It will be a clear day.
Glenn McPherson lives in Sydney. Published in leading Australian poetry journals and anthologies, he has worked as a teacher for more than 20 years. Growing up in small country towns in Central Queensland and North-Western NSW, he received his teaching degree from the University of New England, followed by his Masters in Education, then Masters in Creative Writing, from the University of Sydney. He helps run a school creative journal at Broughton Anglican College, assisting students in developing skills in journalism and creative writing. They published their first edition before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and an interview with celebrated Australian poet, essayist and teacher Mark Tredinnick was the first to be included in the journal.
Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au.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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