States of Poetry - Poems

'Line Up, Teeming' by Ben Walter | States of Poetry Tasmania - Series Two

States of Poetry - Poems

'Line Up, Teeming' by Ben Walter | States of Poetry Tasmania - Series Two

The old dust was left behind;
it hatched crystals,
snowflakes,
a multiverse
dining with itself
around a table.

Heart twigs beat
against the breath and
winding legs patrol
a speck of flesh;
red neurons fire
the sedge, slip below
the iris of lagoon.

Shuffle the pool,
there are diamonds;
numberless suits,
a face.

The dry has blinked.
The tear can’t miss.

Ben Walter

'Line Up, Teeming' first appeared in 'Poets and Painters: Celebrating the Big Punchbowl'.

Ben Walter

Ben Walter’s poetry, fiction, and essays have been widely published in Australian journals, including Meanjin, Island, Southerly, and The Lifted Brow. His début novel manuscript was the winner of the people’s choice category in the 2017 Tasmanian Premier’s Literary Prizes. He won the 2016 John Shaw Neilson Poetry Award, and was runner-up in Overland’s VU Short Story Prize. His latest book is Conglomerate, published as part of the Lost Rocks series.