Today’s poignant poem comes from Michèle Nardelli, a one-time regular Poet’s Corner contributor who has had an interest in poetry since her English days at Flinders University.
Ghost Play
Just at the corner of my eye
on the corner of the street,
for an instant,
I see a familiar head of hair.
The colour and style are a comfort,
like slipping into old shoes.
And I want to track you in the crowd,
You might like
to follow you,
to run along at full pelt, heart beating fast,
and tap your shoulder,
kiss your cheek and ask you how you are,
where you’ve been.
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It happens in a millionth of a second until,
like the sound of a stone falling flat,
I remember you’re gone.
And I look again
at the tiny elements of you
that settled on a stranger.
It is ghost play in the middle of the day.
Michèle Nardelli was a regular contributor to Poet’s Corner’s in its early Independent Weekly print days. She works in public affairs at UniSA as manager of News & Media.
Readers’ original and unpublished poems up to 30 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.