Laila Nawsheen: ‘rainbow’
rainbow
what anguish must the rainbow feel
when only one of five senses will vouch she is real?
called a fraud by those who chased her
for claiming substance without sound nor texture
in the vapour she’ll curve then bloom
pinstriped flower, no petals, no perfume
in the distance so far; what waste
what good is candy without sugar to taste?
brought to court, she was tried and convicted
purged from the sky. From above, she wilted
the jury comprised of one nose, two ears
five fingers, one tongue, a pair of eyes in tears.
Laila Nawsheen
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