I Home I About I Contact I Guidelines I Directory I World I Peace I Charity I Education I Quotes I Solutions I Photo Gallery I Archives I Links I

Thylazine: The Australian Journal of Arts, Ethics & Literature                                                                                                                                    #8/thyla8k-gc AUSTRALIAN POETS SERIES 8 The Poetry of Graham Catt Selected by Coral Hull [Above] Photo of Graham Catt by Lucy Catt, 2002. I seeing things I a dreamhome for the lonely I remembering desire I magpie I house of tears I family portrait I seeing things black trees, green grass, white sky the clouds are still the trees are moving the shadows are slippery the trees are the shadows the shadows are green the trees are black clouds are white trees trees are green clouds the trees are upside-down their branches are roots in blue earth branches are fingers, branches are cracks leaves are mirrors, leaves are ripples leaves drip into the sky, ducks paddle in the trees lovers lie in the clouds, the sun lies in the pond the sun is a hole in the pond the sun is flat and white the pond is filled with clouds there are fish in the clouds there are birds in the pond the birds have fins, they dive into the sky green sky, blue trees, white grass Published in Blue: Friendly Street 27 (Wakefield Press, 2003). a dreamhome for the lonely the doorknobs are shaped like hands with palms open in welcome the chairs are like laps with arms that embrace and shoulders you can lean on the refrigerator will talk as long as you want about sport, sex or the weather the bed will massage you at the end of the day the pillows will hug you back and if you should wake in fear the lamp will hold your trembling hand - the clock sing you a lullaby Published in Friendly Street Poetry Reader 26 (Wakefield Press, 2002). remembering desire it was only a glance as she walked by - statuesque and sultry but something flickered in his grey eyes if only for a moment thirty years ago he might have whistled flashed his tattooed biceps but the chance is long gone by the time his bus pulls up and he stumbles to the kerb others curse his hesitation as he fumbles for loose change but he is remembering desire a time when beauty might have stopped for him seduced by his larrikin smile Published in Pendulum (Australia). Magpie perched upon a street sign a burnt and blackened stump streaked by a seam of ash its dark head swivelling to reveal needle-sharp eyes where a fire still smoulders I hesitate, bewitched by the flame watch its beak, poised like a flint about to strike sparks from my skull Published in Shooting Stars (Ginninderra Press, 2001). house of tears a gecko crawls across her cheek           and into the crack behind her ear the lights in her eyes have gone out moth wings litter her windowsills her mouth is overgrown with weeds           time has rusted her tongue she keeps her doors locked, curtains drawn her empty rooms are musty with regret           webs decorate her memories she has found mouse droppings           in the closet of her womb and a pool of shattered glass where someone has thrown a brick           through the window of her heart family portrait picnic blankets are spread along a coastline of shadow forming an archipelago of patchwork islands where flotillas of litter float in harbours of indifference empty bottles like boats sail on a sea of grass Father drifts off to sleep Mother is marooned on a book others lost in a fog of alcohol their thoughts treading water conversation has been stranded shipwrecked on a reef of silence the gulf between each person is now wider than oceans Published in Shooting Stars (Ginninderra Press, 2001). About the Poet Graham Catt Graham Catt was born in the UK. He arrived in Australia with his family in 1967. His interest in creative arts began in with cartooning, poetry, short stories and pop music. He spent most of the 1980s writing and performing his own music. He has been a member of Adelaide’s long established Friendly Street Poets since 1996, and currently serves on the Friendly Street Committee as Treasurer and Website Administrator. In 2002, he co-edited Blue: Friendly Street 27 with Kim Mann. Blue was launched in March 2003 by Tom Shapcott. In 2000, Graham left his employer of 19 years to devote more time and energy to creative ventures. He has since completed a collection of short stories and a novel for children. His poetry and short stories have appeared in: Poetry Monash, Going Down Swinging, Quadrant, Famous Reporter, LiNQ, The Canberra Times and Verandah. He has also been widely published on the World Wide Web in such e-zines as: Disquieting Muses (US), Limestone Magazine (UK), The 2River View (US), Southern Ocean Review (NZ), The Danforth Review (Canada), Milk Magazine (US) and Carve Magazine (US). He is currently working on three new collections.    [Above] Photo of Graham Catt by Lucy Catt, 2002. I Next I Back I Exit I Thylazine No.8 (September, 2003)