beryllium

Jordie Albiston

beryllium

 
 
strong as a rocket yet light as a breath & put on this earth
for me     when I spark you hold me     stop me exploding
you let all my x-rays free     when I lose it you listen    allow
the howling expertly through     give every sweet vexing
its due     when I trip on the mountain the glucine the mud
when my feet turn to rust     when my little disasters spell
out a melt     when Millers Road feels like the Gaza Strip &
the refinery sounds like a plane going down     when I am
panicked unable to think or tell you I’m panicked     your
aquamarine your emerald eyes     take it all in     never blink
 
 

Jordie Albiston has published eleven collections of poetry, as well as a handbook on poetic form. Her most recent titles are Euclid’s dog (2017) and warlines (2018). Jordie’s work has won many awards, including the Mary Gilmore Award and the 2010 NSW Premier’s Prize. She has an ongoing pre-occupation with mathematical constructs and constraints, and the possibilities offered in terms of poetic structure. She lives in Melbourne.