Poems
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Ceiba insignis (White Silk Floss Tree)
By Maria TakolanderAncient sun of gold—
smuggled down this studded trunk
to the underworld
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Floral Axis
By Autumn RoyalThis is not a concentration of dramatic method.
There appears to be a growing expectation
language can be trusted for clarity, a petal,
yet these segments are modified & leave a waxy -
Cleistocactus winteri (Golden Rat Tail)
By Maria TakolanderSuch obscene sea-green
swarming hardly belongs in
this frankness of sun.
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Echinocactus grusonii (Golden Barrel Cactus)
By Maria TakolanderBurrs of spiked lemon
spill themselves—what a fuss on
the volcanic rock
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Botanic / “One-way conversation with Agapanthus”
By Cameron LoweTrouble is
the reflective lyric pose
won’t hold, when every time I greet you
vision splits (courtesy -
Golden Bogey
By Duncan HoseI am insuperably lazy and this makes me proud.
Midnight in Derby
a new suburb of Melbourne
Where Fitzleroy used to be -
CBD Flower-Seller / Self-portrait
By Autumn RoyalThe flower-seller pulls a wagon into her failed
self-possession, a timeless testimony
for the story-teller. She will not sit restfully
with her hands in her lap, they are tied -
Enter the Yellow Tower
By Elena Gomezwe grew a little slower sometimes
we needed to protect ourselves
we self-seeded on the cliff face
we splashed out real nice -
Arms of a friend
By Carissa Lee GodwinFor Monterey Cypress
Origin: Mexico, South America
How many hearts have broken beneath your arms -
Step Off Golden Rat Tail
By Elena Gomezhere a clumped heart &
welts soon for the softer plush—
our thickened carpet slug.
we are on a different level -
Botanic / "Hermeneutics"
By Cameron Lowe“The land escapes because it refuses”
—Tony Baker
Turned the sun over -
Echinopsis spachiana (Torch Cactus)
By Maria TakolanderA forest, they rise
to the god of night and, awed,
ignite in blossom.
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Botanic / "Beginning with four words from a poem by Joseph Massey"
By Cameron LoweThere’s little
to say. The fig—
giant—leans
across the -
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Kuller Kullup
By Bruce PascoeKuller Kullup walked
from the stoney shoulder of Targangil
to this bend of Birrarung
spoke to all the people gathered there, -
Euphorbia caput-medusae (Medusa’s Head)
By Maria TakolanderIts skyward forays
thwarted, it lays low, seething—
fires with its own stars
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Botanic / “Commission”
By Cameron Lowe—for Tamryn Bennett
Tired my eyes
having done nothing but speak
turtle talk to tortoise -
Cereus peruvianus (Peruvian Apple or Apple Cactus)
By Maria TakolanderIn the deep of night:
a rush of moons flowering,
soon rustling with moths.
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Agave victoriae (Royal Agave)
By Maria TakolanderPorcelain perfect:
such composure beneath the
wheeling, star-streaked sky.
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Marylebone's Wedding
By Duncan HosePagans I don’t know what they do with them
Chuck em in the river I Spose
You try drawing the head of Xipe Totec he will take
All your drankeeness, guile and something else which you will not
