Blue Bottles
Regiments come
an army from nowhere
a flotilla of gas-filled sails
powered by wind from the north.
“Bluies”, endearments
won’t take away their fire
like lava to the skin
of optimistic swimmers
gambling with water love.
Their ammunition dusky blue
hangs down
a deadly mobile in the nursery of sea.
They drift to sear and stun
whatever chance will bring
to blunder in,
tattoo flesh,
imprint a row of red
circle after circle upon skin,
jewelling an arm, a leg or neck
with microscopic weaponry.
Nana Ollerenshaw
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