Lizz Murphy — Poem 57: The idea of bare feet

for Anna Couani and Sarah St Vincent Welch

THE IDEA OF BARE FEET

The idea of bare feet

walking on hot sand

warm buffalo grass

burning tarmac

cossies drying off

towels over shoulders

The idea of bare feet

wading in cold seas

warm rains

storm waters

shoes dry in hands

or thongs laced on arms

The sharp of gravel

leather pads

cracks

broadening toes

the very idea of bare feet

was novel for us

Lizz Murphy #1 SUMMER

Lizz Murphy #1 SUMMER

Summer paddocks ski-slope smooth

sheep dark as spat up boulders

Christmas tinsel around the pole

someone killed themselves on

season of sadness merry trinkets

a frown on a baby too young to know 

frowning Daddy please shade his eyes

red hot chilli peppers and the earthquake

I felt face down in the green river she is 

comfortable in her big ass cool as the 

cucumbers she steps lightly around

what you want me to be a loud voice

looping through the crowds a chimp in

a food hall jingle a hum like insects in a

swarm that screeching bird Post-Xmas Sale

wresting every last dollar happy poor year