Angophora striptease
after Hollow Bearing I, Ochre Lawson
written by Cassy Cochrane
Here at the edge of
what’s bearable we
find our sound of sea
in leaves
Angophora striptease –
fricative racket of parrot,
riot of seeds.
Blood rises
from an old kiln
the river in your eye
in spring
slipped husks are shucked
mistakes mislaid
for memory to incinerate
as life’s concentric lessons
empty rings
shorn back by ash
you shiver in new skin
blush pink & ginger-ly
licked
against the black back
drop, your bark an ark
for voices.
In time
I’ve learnt that
old moulds fall away
we are all clay
& scars can fade in crisis
placate unmade places
pare back, slough,
shrug, peel, breathe
*Angophora Costata: Sydney red gum or rose apple
after Hollow Bearing I, Ochre Lawson
written by Cassy Cochrane
Here at the edge of
what’s bearable we
find our sound of sea
in leaves
Angophora striptease –
fricative racket of parrot,
riot of seeds.
Blood rises
from an old kiln
the river in your eye
in spring
slipped husks are shucked
mistakes mislaid
for memory to incinerate
as life’s concentric lessons
empty rings
shorn back by ash
you shiver in new skin
blush pink & ginger-ly
licked
against the black back
drop, your bark an ark
for voices.
In time
I’ve learnt that
old moulds fall away
we are all clay
& scars can fade in crisis
placate unmade places
pare back, slough,
shrug, peel, breathe
*Angophora Costata: Sydney red gum or rose apple
This poem by Cassy Cochrane was written in response to the painting below