18: ROOTS

Luke Beesley: N

Really to dip words in erotic drive
rinse them and place them on a lovely towel

In the sunlight, the pieces then, no longer actually
erotic, sometimes sensual, stripped of subject or person

But sun washed, completely human, Cavafy's wish
for outlines, a tender letter, punctuation

Dressed in qualities then, of raspberries
and pink, of wine and other spills

Apostrophes and stops, immediate plays
delicate and full, clever and long

Elegant rest, soft scarves, poorly held
and lively in the bright world.

Luke Beesley is a young Brisbane writer of poetry and short fiction. He has published widely in journals and newspapers including ABR, Southerly, The Canberra Times & The Australian. He has just completed his first manuscript of poetry with the assistance of an Arts Queensland Major Grant, and is currently studying for an M.Phil (Creative Writing) at the University of Qld. He likes cricket and jazz.