34-37 Degrees South - 2023
This anthology from the South Coast Writers Centre presents fresh country poetry from emerging and award-winning local writers.
This anthology from the South Coast Writers Centre presents fresh country poetry from emerging and award-winning local writers.
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Strange country<br />
Kathleen Bleakley<br />
Disenfranchised Stanley is hospitalised: seizure after seizure,<br />
muscles collapsing<br />
he wakes, tries to stand, alarm goes off<br />
they won’t let him walk unaided<br />
There’s been a mistake, it was just a fall<br />
Disoriented<br />
Pearl takes Stanley to the bathroom<br />
no flush - she finds him standing between<br />
door and wall<br />
Stanley tells me he can’t find his way around<br />
this big place full of oddballs.<br />
Dad, I point to the sign above his door:<br />
Mr Stanley Lane<br />
he smiles<br />
Discombobulated What do you think of this place, Stanley asks<br />
I like the gardens and the light, I say<br />
he nods but don’t you think it’s strange?<br />
Distanced<br />
Nurse says Stanley, your wife Pearl and<br />
sister Beth are here<br />
He stands on the other side of the room<br />
Beth has flown across the country<br />
Nurse walks him over, Stanley stares at Beth<br />
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