Mock Me

Mock me
mulberry-munching mockingbirds
mock me at my window
trilling in the morning light
thanking me for their delight.

Sanguine

Sanguine
is where I find myself
sitting in my red armchair
transported to my ideal place
seashore views
rolling sandhills
crystal clear sea
with cappuccino froth
swirling in the waves
driftwood gnarled
with stories caught in kelp
seagulls squawking
crabs crawling
with sun setting
penguins
are coming home from the sea
soon the incoming tide
will lap at the foot of my red chair
I couldn’t care
sanguine
is where I find myself.

Andrew Ballard lives in Adelaide. He was a petty officer medical in the Royal Australian Navy for 11 years, following which he worked for medical companies selling devices and instruments, then as a support worker in mental health, and support worker and first-aid instructor in aged care. Diagnosed with Systemic Mastocytosis, he took early retirement, with digital art, and enjoyably lawn bowls, becoming activities. With 2020’s COVID year then also impacting, especially on the bowls, he turned to writing and in quick succession since last November has seen his poetry published in the US in the inaugural edition of the New Jersey Mignolo Arts Group’s journal, and the New York poetry journal ‘Open Skies’. More of his poetry, and short stories, can be found here.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.