Poems by Rob Schackne

By  Rob Schackne

 

Yesterday


It meets the eye
yesterday we met
migrants walking
on the beach
out of sight
they turned
waxing crescent
yesterday we met
they came back
there was a boat
that’s not it
what meets the eye
yesterday we met
a bloodbath 
yesterday we met
at the poetry shop
yesterday we met
on the beach

waxing crescent
there was a boat
clouds gathered
what killers
yesterday we met
what meets the eye
that’s not it

 

“A utopian flash”

 

A utopian flash 
to be a rock
and not to roll

nothing says

solar system
like the rain
wind up
slow eyes
birds scatter

I mop the floor
a poem or two

clouds clear

 

“The chook raffle”

 

The chook raffle
lotteries won
who needs a feed
this week gets one
a crescent moon
don’t get excited
jokers everywhere
your turn is next
how do we miss it
placed in a landscape
waiting to be born

 

“Water of life”

 

Water of life
where sometimes
life cannot go
two sides of spirit
no argument
of deep things
the outlaws talk
the single malt
satori tomorrow
the rent is due
all the rivers 
next stop
no stop 

 

Once The Migrants Came

They looked around
unimaginably
so miserable really

those refugee detectives
who tricked them
they stared at you
ten minutes to find out
if you’re from your hometown
they answered
till they misremembered
the street names 

why they took their kids
to run for their lives
the blood and bandages
these very languages