Poem: Meanwhile, Outside

Meanwhile, Outside

It is late, a few stars

light the night. 1980s.

I’ve just kissed a boy

inside a car.

Outside, magpies sing

of mating.

It’s early. 1970s. I’ve snuck

up with the sun

to watch my mother

hang toast to the morning

and warm our plates.

Outside, magpies sing

of their young.

Afternoon, new millennium.

We’ve just buried Grandpa.

Inside, the church hall

is cold. Iced tea.

Outside, magpies sing

of sun.

It’s the nineties. I have an empty

belly and strange tendency

for babies. I throw a clutter

from the study room

and dream of cradles with muslin.

Outside, magpies sing

of nests.

It’s noon, a thick shade

and warm soup huddled under an

arbour of friends. We pull

scarves closer, wonder why we chose

this stale cafeteria.

Outside, magpies sing

of suppers.

It’s noon, early 2000s. I’ve

plucked lemons from branches,

delivered them inside,

set an iPod to the stillness,

cooed my thoughts to wait

my children’s arrival, written lists

for tomorrow. In case I forget.

Outside, magpies sing

of now.

It’s today, once tomorrow.

Now and then,

it is yesterday. In case

I remember. Outside,

magpies sing.

Linda Kohler, living in Adelaide, grew up on a fruit block outside the River Murray town of Renmark. A former television scriptwriter, proofreader and teacher, she was a highly commended applicant for the Australian Society of Authors Poetry Mentorship Program. Her poems have seen publication in various Australian and international journals and anthologies, including with Wakefield Press. A long-standing contributor to Poet’s Corner, her poem today is from her manuscript collection Home Towns, in final proofing for publisher submission. More about Linda and her work can be found at https://lindakohler.com/about/.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected].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.