Fleurieu Peninsula poet Moira Deslandes says these two poems – one on a Christmas past, the other on the Coffs Harbour egret – came from the same holiday respite.
The Giant Egret
The Giant Egret
Strolls the emerald-tinged river,
Sanctifying the water with her presence.
Goddess of the mangroves
Elegantly glides past me,
Dispensing an invisible blessing,
As I sit in the confessional of the hide.
‘Tis the Season
Amputee shepherd
Cow, donkey, goat
Grandma’s nativity
Chosen astrologer
Gold, frankincense, myrrh
Destiny’s child
Primed basket
Onions, thyme, garlic
Season’s turkey
Teenage graduate
Blood, sweat, tears
Clink’s glass
Fallen bow
Heat, fan, rest
Summer’s arrived.
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Moira Deslandes has worked from the kitchen table to the cabinet table, as a grassroots community social worker, to a chief-of-staff to a State Government minister. She is a founding member of Willunga Playback Theatre and an aspiring poet, and blogs at Letters to Biddy. In 2013, Moira spoke on “resignation” at TEDxAdelaide.
Readers’ original and unpublished poems up to 30 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.