Poems: Pier and Gone

Pier

I shall be a pier for you,

jutting out into the murky depths,

a platform to keep you above

the wishy-washy traffic of waves.

And in the night, my light, a guide

to help you find your bearings,

in this flippy floppy chaotic world.

I have always been right here for you,

since white-sailed ships first plied this bay,

and though time and salt have weathered

my weedy pylons, I remain, as always, your stay.

Gone

your grandson told me

I should hold him ‒

that he would carry me

when I grew small ‒

and I thought you

had gone away,

yet I still hear

you if I stall.

Peter Roberts has been published in a range of national and international journals, most recently W-Poesis, Catchment and The Beatnik Cowboy. As currently Poet-in-Residence at the Louis Joel Arts Centre in Hobson Bay, West Melbourne, among other things he produces a monthly podcast titled the Louis Joel Poetry Pod, released on each full moon on Spotify. Today’s poems are from his work-in-progress collection, “West”.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.