Joe Dolce: ‘Carmenta’lia’
Carmenta’lia
The frass on the mimosa indicate
larvae have tunneled the stem,
weakening it so that seed is impossible.
Drawn out by pheromones,
nymphs unfold transparent wings.
O foe of fruit tree and timber,
how far you have flown
from your Roman namesake,
Carmenta, goddess of childbirth,
patron of midwives,
your praises once sung
by Ovid, Servius and Solinus.
Joe Dolce
Many will disagree, but World War III is too great a risk to run by involving ourselves in a distant border conflict
Sep 25 2024
5 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