Interrobang
That eyebrow raise
and then a starter
pistol as you jump
towards me a blur
in force so quick
the alarm clock rattles
beside us and beads
of water drip from
your brow into
my waiting mouth
there is salt and salt
to swallow dry.
Pillow Book
Don’t dilettante
like you have a paper cut
we are a chapter over
in the pages
I want us to spill
crumbs and morning after
coffee as we lie
with buttermilk sun
sneaking between shutters
there is a library
to be collected
of what’s unwritten
let’s start with your spine
I want to read History
then Art
followed by fiction
in your eyes
after which those fingers
can flip all the way through
find the right spot
Bookmark me.
Thuy On is a freelance literary journalist and critic and the Books Editor of The Big Issue. Her work has been published in a range of publications including: The Age, SMH, The Australian, ArtsHub and Books+Publishing.