Poem: Johnny’s Song
Books & Poetry
This week’s Poet’s Corner features the third of three consecutive contributions from Damian Balassone.
Johnny’s Song
From shining sea to scorching sand
and all across Gondwanaland,
the sound of Johnny’s minstrel choir
strums the strings of my desire:
the doves of Arafura’s Sea
sing of Johnny’s love for me.
Johnny’s love for me.
Johnny’s love for me.
The doves of Arafura’s Sea
sing of Johnny’s love for me.
Oh, hear that great angelic choir
raining down like holy fire
over rivers, mountains, canyons:
if you can’t be there, imagine.
The doves of Arafura’s Sea
sing of Johnny’s love for me.
Johnny’s love for me.
Johnny’s love for me.
The doves of Arafura’s Sea
sing of Johnny’s love for me.
Oh, Johnny take my shrivelled hand
and lead me to Gondwanaland
beyond the cliffs of death’s desire
towards that everlasting choir,
where doves of Arafura’s Sea
sing of Johnny’s love for me.
Johnny’s love for me.
Johnny’s love for me.
The doves of Arafura’s Sea
sing of Johnny’s love for me.
Damian Balassone, from Warrandyte, Victoria, is the author of three volumes of poetry, including the forthcoming collection of short poems and epigrams ‘Love is a Weird Cat’. His poems have also appeared in more than 100 other Australian and international publications, notably in the ‘New York Times’, ‘The Australian’, ‘The Canberra Times’ and ‘The Spectator’. Les Murray, seen as Australia’s uncrowned poet laureate, called him ‘a virtuoso’. More about Damian and his poetry 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Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to poetscorner@solsticemedia.com.au.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.
Support local arts journalism
Your support will help us continue the important work of InReview in publishing free professional journalism that celebrates, interrogates and amplifies arts and culture in South Australia.
Donate Here
