his arms
his arms fold over each other
left palm firm against the lower right arm
right fingers curve loosely across the biceps
golden hairs glisten on tanned skin
arms that have dug holes for trees posts fences
muscles strengthened against soil wire wood
fingers that have guided root tendrils, trickled
soil over them, patted the earth
winter days hoisting the axe high, thrusting
it down as if it were really the block
he was aiming to chop, scrunching paper
placing kindling, striking the match
skin weathered through seasons years
except for the tiny patch of white flesh
exposed above the curve of singlet sleeve
a peep-hole at another version of this man
a bulky teenager at the school social
or a child who was loved, not quite enough
E.A. Gleeson
Madam: Archbishop Fisher (July-August 2024) does not resist the attacks on his church by the political, social or scientific atheists and those who insist on not being told what to do.
Aug 29 2024
6 mins
To claim Aborigines have the world's oldest continuous culture is to misunderstand the meaning of culture, which continuously changes over time and location. For a culture not to change over time would be a reproach and certainly not a cause for celebration, for it would indicate that there had been no capacity to adapt. Clearly this has not been the case
Aug 20 2024
23 mins
A friend and longtime supporter of Quadrant, Clive James sent us a poem in 2010, which we published in our December issue. Like the Taronga Park Aquarium he recalls in its 'mocked-up sandstone cave' it's not to be forgotten
Aug 16 2024
2 mins