Australian Poetry Collaboration issue 40 ed. Lynn Clayton & Les Wicks

Feeling very honoured to have my poem Crow  included  in the latest copy of Australian Poetry Collaboration .  Thank you to the editors Lynn Clayton & Les Wicks for their dedication to poetry and poets and for a new fine journal.

I am delighted to share the pages of Australian Poetry Collaboration #40 Speaking in Tongues with so many f poets I know included in its pages.  You can find it here: https://meusepress.org/apc.

Australian Poetry Collaboration issue 40 ed. Lynn Clayton & Les Wicks

Hi Colleen,

Thanks for sending your work. We would like to use Crow. You will be contacted later with proofs.

Please send a max 50w bio by 24th May.

Regards

Lynn Clayton & Les Wicks     (editors)

The 40th issue of Australian Poetry Collaboration is now up at https://meusepress.org/apc

The focus for this issue is the very broad “speaking in tongues”. It contains work from a number of newer voices alongside globally recognised poets. 

Editors: Lynn Clayton & Les Wicks

For those interested in name similarities, the first issue emerged in 1999. Well before Australian Poetry, its predecessor Australian Poetry Centre & the magazine Australian Poetry Journal.

In its time APC has published work in a host of languages chosen by a diverse range of editors. 

It has been recognised & preserved as a part of our nation’s cultural heritage by the National library’s Pandora project while it continues to reach a substantial audience.

There is an open callout for submissions policy, stating theme. Issues usually twice per year.

contact: meusepress@hotmail.com

morning lament

The following poem morning lament was written after one morning waking up to more depressing news on the radio news. This is the first poem in the Social Justice section called Between the Wings of the Crow of my poetry book A Call to Listen. There are seven poems for you to enjoy in this section.

It is like the leaders keep us overwhelmed by bad news so we become apathetic and complacent. It is when this happens that power is wielded . Like the saying when good people remain silent bad things happen. Many readers will relate to this morning lament.

c_southerly_buster1-1

morning lament

the morning begins with the crow
its articulated screech
takes me back to my fourth grade teacher
and world of long division
incomprehensible

the digital radio lights up
the dark of night is past
secret fears
scuttling crabs of the heart
dart into hiding

morning news like canned laughter
mocks me
as leaders in a world of illusion
seize loop holes
to button me down with their spin

between the wings of the crow
is stored anguish
and the mourning women’s lament
under dark skies lit by destructive fire

dawn becomes glare
stares me down
blindingly

and the crow mocks
as it flies away
beyond consciousness