Coffee waylays
the time
and the mind
and the grapple
between the rattle
and the dapple
of sun-stretched fingers
pushing this carriage’s cauldron;

we share this time

this space

this morning’s race;

somewhere —
had you considered
falling short
reaching into the well
of lofty regret and
catching your ragged stare

for yesterday’s drubbing
fuels tomorrow’s acquiescence
but today

today —

that rural red horizon
that limit-you-not skyline
promises and delivers

enough

Jo Wilson-Ridley

 

Jo Wilson-Ridley has been published in five bells, fourW20, fourW22, fourW23, fourW24, fourW26, fourW27, Feast of Poetry a shortlisted finalist for Ekphrasis Poetry Competition 2016 and on a postcard with the Ekphrasis Poetry Competition 2015. Jo has been a New South Wales State Finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 but is still picking up the best poetry lines from cheering on her sons at Junior AFL. Jo lives with her family in Queanbeyan, New South Wales.

© 2018