Here squats a sandstone city, its streets choked
by motley cloth, Crowd River; bank brimming
over toes tucked beneath dark waters cloaked
by shade of steel shoulders, hunched, crouching.
Light ripples on its water, blending hues
which glimmer a vibrant crescendo to
grins glistening. Wealthy tourists choose
cockatoo or kangaroo memento.
String lights gleam like mock stars, boxed in, the skies
fit Nike shoebox rentals. Flattened clay stays
encased by cobble stone pavers, implies
preservation of memory by clichés
or burial. Buildings are gutted thus
souls hollowed, redeveloped for Starbucks.
Adrienne is in her third year studying a Bachelor of Arts (Writing and English Literature) at UOW. She moved to the Illawarra from the Central West to develop her skills as a writer and textiles artist. She writes short fiction pieces for the Tertangala in poetry and prose form. Her work is underlaid with a witty commentary on the shared experiences of the pandemic, student life and moving from home. Using threads of these common themes, she aims to weave connections across environments and communities.
Feature Image: Mandy Henry/Unsplash