Cleopatra’s Dream

a reflection on Cleopatra’s legendary practice of crushing
pearls to drink in vinegar or wine after a feast

Are you Mark Antony
waiting to please me?
Sat at an ordinary feast
until I think to dissolve
the pearl of my wisdom
in your rough wine
and as you drink the gem
of pure aggravation
you are no longer rooted
into ancient knowing
but you are the translucent grape
in a cluster of fleshy stars
plucked to be admired
but crushed in the tasting.

The Saffron Kiss

peripheral observations over time
as evoked by the fragrance of lilies

The saffron kiss
of the Christmas lily
worn on her sleeve

the purple stain
of blackberries
on his lips

the dented web
of pine needles
on their soles

an intense dawn
opens expectations
of a heat wave.

Ever Present

reflection on a rural landscape
near Rockleigh, SA

What exchanges
slide in the grasses
lift into the clouds
climb down fence posts
corrode the wire

endless shifts in energy
rarely seen
ever present.

Another of Heather Sladdin’s poems was published in last week’s Poet’s Corner.

Sladdin, of Murray Bridge, was born in Adelaide. During a retail career in the US and Australia, she gained her BA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and a Graduate Diploma in Women’s Studies from Adelaide University. She tutored and lectured at UniSA and SAIBT (Navitas) in Creative Writing, Editing and Publishing, Communication and the Media, and other associated subjects.

Currently, Sladdin edits and mentors for writers. Two collections of her published poetry, “rooms of discovery” and “the grammar of grapes”, and the verse novel “Patterns of Being”, are about to be brought out as e-books. You can read more about her here.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.