Ashlley Morgan-Shae: Two Poems

                     Tail-bones

Wet street, Melbourne storm, outside Tusk,

feet go under, tail down,

hit the hard concrete and Snap!

Tail-gated, broken coccyx and sacrum

Yoga back-flips are out

Donuts mean a blow-up cushion

The tattle-tale of a fall-girl,

cracked and grounded

Tail tucked under, not wagging

I always held out for the long-tail,

pony-tail, story-strands that grow and

wave, windy and free

Could high-tail it out of trouble

Leave anyone tailing me, behind

“Metal in her spine,” one said

Some thought I was chasing my tail

to stand up to bullies

I walked in, stated facts,

played tails to heads

Now a fractured fairy-tale

I balance on one buttock

Six weeks to try to repair

Cheek is never enough padding

Against spineless educators

But bottoms up

I will grow back my tail

                             Briny

Briny, I love to feel, you in my flesh

From foreshore to meet, down under the pier

Laid-back, palming sand, fish-scents to enmesh

Lady of the Sea, hot, stripping, arms sear.

St Kilda Esplanade—tramming up close

Sand between my toes, light shimmering eyes

Wet slap on my cheek. Take life-giving dose,

roll-up, renewing, in rhythm-strong thighs.

Briny, I miss you, I can’t wait to come—

lick salt of your skin, share rocking your bones

Sky-blue of your eyes, stone-curve of your bum

Hear breeze in your voice, as wind picks up moans

Surprising, returning, making so fresh

Briny my Love, I feel you—in my flesh

                              Ashlley Morgan-Shae