The Nolans at St Kilda Pier

after Giggle Palace, 1949, by Sidney Nolan

The world was light on laughs

time to smile again

remember the family photo

just the three of you

a formal pose and formal clothes

leger-de-main, leger-de-leg

in short pants

suitable in serge

dressed in her best

illusions, allusion

backs to the horizon

blue sea-saws, meets sky

crowds would soon blow in

try to get ahead

land on their feet

over there it wasn’t giggles

and beer and skittles

to be king and queen

at the palace pier

on the bored walk

great for graffiti

for having a spray

can you paint an angry penguin

draw a line in the sand

of the lucky country