My Brother Jack Awards 2021 - City of Glen Eira
Open Poetry – Second Prize
The Geometry of Winter by Gab Doquile
Knowing the importance of physical activity
I will myself up
It’s one straight line to Caulfield Library
I block out the cars
And the kids
I walk
My head swivelling
But not noticing
My surroundings
The captain has left the bridge
The ship is unmanned
There is a hush
In the library
The light is gentle
In the stacks
My heart goes back to normal
I choose the third row
Running my fingers along the spines
Reading each title
Crouching down
Standing up
Sitting on the step stool
The books are sentries
A shield
Back to bed
Tick, job done
Here’s my old friend Scaredy
Back to torment me
I devour the pages
But the stories are lost,
Just glimpsed through the fog
Pills at night
Help me sleep deeply
So that I can forget
I am not in charge
But I am hanging on
It’s one straight line
To Caulfield Library
Open Poetry – Second Prize
The Geometry of Winter by Gab Doquile
Knowing the importance of physical activity
I will myself up
It’s one straight line to Caulfield Library
I block out the cars
And the kids
I walk
My head swivelling
But not noticing
My surroundings
The captain has left the bridge
The ship is unmanned
There is a hush
In the library
The light is gentle
In the stacks
My heart goes back to normal
I choose the third row
Running my fingers along the spines
Reading each title
Crouching down
Standing up
Sitting on the step stool
The books are sentries
A shield
Back to bed
Tick, job done
Here’s my old friend Scaredy
Back to torment me
I devour the pages
But the stories are lost,
Just glimpsed through the fog
Pills at night
Help me sleep deeply
So that I can forget
I am not in charge
But I am hanging on
It’s one straight line
To Caulfield Library