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Books & Poetry

Poem: Evening Stroll by the Canal

Books & Poetry

This week’s Poet’s Corner features a third poem penned by Jena Woodhouse during a residency in the French commune of Marnay-sur-Seine.

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Evening Stroll by the Canal

Marnay-on-Seine, France

Late today I turned east by the arched bridge at the village edge
to follow the canal’s trajectory, between tall trees and low levée –
a strange wind blowing fitfully, rattling the sabres of a ghost cohort.

A swan is nesting on the bank, a queen upon her makeshift throne –
her consort tacking back and forth, anxious and alone.

A chill breath lifts the trailing ivy tendrils from the trunks of trees,
sings an eerie serenade in balls of mistletoe, ruffles the canal’s
meniscus, sets it lapping like a cat.

I glance over my shoulder: it’s deserted here, I should turn back,
but can’t resist the stubborn invitation of the thread of track.
The channel is an enigmatic green, unwinding like a charm.
The more I walk, the more it lures me on.

The château and the village that I reach have strayed out of a tale.
I’ll blink, and there’ll be nothing there at all. I blink, but they are real:
The Three Emperors, where three armies in turn set up
their headquarters, is solid as a rock. I am the revenant,
or so it seems, roaming stony streets like one possessed.

Walking back, I see the swan has tucked her head beneath her wing;
the male swan paddles fretfully, to guard her as she rests.

The northern European light drains swiftly to the west –
its running fire on the canal is doused.
The woods are listening, as if alert for signs of hobgoblins,
and there is something – edgy – in the wind.

Jena Woodhouse lives in Brisbane. She has published seven collections of poetry, and five of prose, which include a translation of a Russian novella commissioned by the University of Queensland, a co-compiled and co-edited anthology of writing by contemporary Australian women, and the award-winning novella for children – ‘Metis, the Octopus and the Olive Tree’. Her work has also appeared in numerous Australian and international journals and magazines, and has been the winner of a number of their prizes and awards. More details of Jena’s writing and publishing can be found along with her previous two week’s Poet’s Corner contributions, here and here. Today’s poem was also written during her residency at the French CAMAC Centre d’Art in Marnay-sur-Seine in France.

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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