Article 6

Sian Vate



major vice


fairly hue. think about grey / green
pink / think about you – footscray’s a series
of frozen food drops
small business transactions
actual bbqs. neighbours’ yells
dodged neighbours’ gazes
the broken pot shop’s one
block from the creek. it’s not a creek
it’s a river. does your life have a season
does summer affect this / you got one
frozen peach on the tongue –
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp  in maribyrnong the sun’s
convinced. it seems willing. we’re
breathing rocks in the chips in the phone
you got one large hand on my cheek
press there. never speak ill
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp  of highpoint to me he said
i said i didn’t i wouldn’t – i got
pt options. a four letter body
shifts that move about week to week
press there. you got one soft hand on
my cheek



illuminating dashes


there’s a certain squeaking coming south
down the phone. i wouldn’t mind the train
trip but these blokes and their smokes in
the cabin / one guy’s sleeping rough in the
restaurant dyu think that’s cos of the crisis
i think that’s cos of the heat / this train is
slaying these cliffs like a king. [am snaking a
passage through luggage to] front up & ask for
dolmades. am paying you no attention. woke
up in the luminous cliffs. we’re one long
cigarette rounding the jagged & luminous
cliffs. this air’s kind of perforated by cheese
sandwiches & the black holes of smokes
can look up & barely remember. [could reach
out & throttle or mack you] hey kid there’s
mt olympus [that’s me] but the kid isn’t here
for the view. i told you these families were
syrians and you didn’t believe me. why. some
people are too serious bout politics life &
things. asleep in
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp  parental bed head. no one
wants to get to thessaloniki. no one should be
that drunk. raki is falling slick down the walls
one painter smacks a hole in the air / the
internet’s still & rising / stand stunned there



joe cocker

                       sweetly in the non-mackerel sky   
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp  salt fields are pepper sprayed nightly & crushed
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp              the fields are cornish rebellions

            faded under sepia
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp     in your dream world train tracks make visions
                  in mountainous towns
                             the fields are draining you dry
                                        dragged sandals over 
                                                   crushed fields & remember

            whole mountains folded / the streets are grained tunnels
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp    in your sea world breathing
                             south toward the track

            wake up enamel in parked cars / bae                   
                                  the valleys point at you sideways 
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp              always

                           locals make joe cocker gestures
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp                    nightly 
                                           in parks          

Sian Vate
 
 
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