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'Bricks and Lightning' by Ellen van Neerven | States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

by
States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

'Bricks and Lightning' by Ellen van Neerven | States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

by
States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

It seems I'm always walking
into the scene of a crime
moustached copper
and fuck-off tape
don't look too closely
you won't be able to sleep
I'm new to this building
I live now by the river where
the ducks look like shoes
in the water
I go to the department store
we used to frequent
I look at grocery receipts
to see how I'm saving
and sometimes I get so lonely
I can barely stand it
tonight I wanted you
like the rain wanted the streets
my building was one of two
struck by lightning
a chunk off the top
spilt bricks on the road
I am marked
drop a Google pin into my heart
like they say in Alice
when the Todd floods
this must mean I'm staying

Ellen van Neerven

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Comment (1)

  • This is beautiful work. I've just been reading the others of Ellen's poems on this site, very impressed. A true poet; straight through skin and flesh to touch the core. I'm going to seek her out in bookshops.
    Posted by Anne-Louise Luccarini
    18 October 2017