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“Hello, my name’s Craig Billingham. I’m going to be reading 3 poems today, all of which are in some way related to public transport. The first poem is called: “The Fan”.
The Fan
Are you a fan? the woman said
and then sat down.
I didn’t know what she meant –
I imagined she was famous.
I watched the back of her head
but nothing came of it.
I tried to read
but I couldn’t concentrate.
The bus turned left, then stopped
at my stop.
Standing to get off,
I blew gently on her neck.
The second poem is called:
Eglise
From the morning bus
I saw a woman
nursing a wounded bird
in her mouth,
and then I saw
the wounded bird
was her mouth.
I blinked and looked again,
but a truck was passing.
…. and the final poem I’m going to be reading is called:
6.10pm to Lithgow
You were on my train
again tonight,
summoned
in bits and pieces,
your kneecap worn
on a student’s elbow,
her pared-back nails
bitten as your shy lips.
A Chinese man
was hiding your shoulder-blades
within his shirt,
the daylong cotton
translucent as tired skin.
As a businessman
crossed and uncrossed
his legs,
his brown sock
smuggled your anklebone
and the wisdom
of heel before toe.
A grey woman
sniffled on my shoulder,
a sound like
webbed feet
through muddy water.
I thought of you.
And again,
as your polished hair
got off at Blaxland,
I thought of you.”
ABOUT CRAIG BILLINGHAM:
Craig is a Blue Mountains based writer. His poems have been published in many Australian journals, including recently in Heat, Meanjin, Snorkel, and Antipodes. Craig’s poem “The Fan” was published in 2011 as part of The Red Room Company’s Sun Herald “Extra” Series.
“I launched my poetry collection at Varuna in 2007, and regularly attend readings and launches. I’ve also been a judge for a Varuna Manuscript Development Award.” Craig Billingham
PUBLICATION:
Storytelling, poetry collection published in 2007
CONTACT:
bil7cr(at)yahoo.com
In March 2012 Varuna is hosting its inaugural “Doctors Who … ” event. You can view the program and MJA writing competition by clicking here.
Varuna has been funded by the Australia Council to produce a Varuna Writer-a-Day “app”. When we have recorded 365 writers the app will be made available via the iTunes store. In the meantime, if you subscribe to this free blog, you can receive a daily reading delivered to your email inbox which can also be directed to your mobile phone. To find out more about Varuna’s programs, residencies, events and support services for writers click here.
“I saw a woman
nursing a wounded bird
in her mouth,
and then I saw
the wounded bird
was her mouth.”
LOVE THIS!! I really enjoyed listening to the poems Craig. Congratulations.