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'Not knowing how to start this editorial, I lazily google ‘belong’. A grossly simplified e-dictionary pops up to tell me that ‘belong’ comes from Middle English: ‘be-’ + an archaic form of ‘long’. But rather than investigate longen like the diligent researcher I should be, I am temporarily sidetracked; I think intensely about ‘being long’, consider stretching out on the ground, pointing my toes, elongating my spine, straightening my fingers. I think about being the longest me I can be.' (Jessica Wilkinson Editorial introduction)
Notes
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Only literary material by Australian authors individually indexed. Other material in this issue includes:
Elegy by Devin Kelly
The Magician by Alysse Kathleen McCanna
Might Kindred by Monica Gomery
Remember When by Adam Berlin
Cositas by Katie Afshar
Migration Story by Juliana Chang
The Houses I Grew Up In by Ashia Ajani
Poem Where I Contend the Arc of History Bends Toward Itself by Cortney Lamar Charleston
Phan Quynh Tram Interviews Nha Thuyen
When is it Enough? and Bao Gio Thoi Roi Rung by Nha Thuyen
Contents
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Poetry Editorial,
single work
essay
(p. 6-7)
'One of my earliest memories in life is set in my kindergarten classroom. I am five years old, and I am trying to make friends with a girl who has her hair tied in two ponytails, one on either side of her head. On some days, she has fluffy red adornments in her hair; her mouth is as small and as stained as a cheery. She already has a special friend. She does not want to be mine. I am trying to talk to her in class, but she raises her hand, and tells the teacher I am bothering her. The teacher puts masking tape over my mouth. I begin to cry, and the alphabet and its accompanying pictures on the chart pinned to the wall begin to blur. I cannot breathe; I am crying so hard,my nose has blocked up. A is for apple, B is for ball. The cat is yellow, the dog is brown. The teacher looks worried, and gestures to me to take the masking tape off. The girl I like puts her had up and tells the teacher. I never speak to her again.' (Introduction)
- Velodrome of Springi"Don't forget who got sent to the camps.", single work poetry (p. 10-11)
- Space Invadersi"In my mother's corner store, where a burst bottle cut", single work poetry (p. 12-13)
- Sepik Warai"The Sepik in languorous flow has shed its crocodiles to the red-earthed banks,", single work poetry (p. 16-17)
- Lantanai"at the heart of the lantana warren", single work poetry (p. 18-19)
- Becoming Paruwai"I come home to my father", single work poetry (p. 20-23)
- Returni"Walking in the house that has never", single work poetry (p. 24-25)
- A Night Like Thisi"Like God, Im over it", single work poetry (p. 26-27)
- The Long Stems Leaning Forwardi"So often it is the glimpses that give her joy:", single work poetry (p. 28-29)
- A Map of Mothersi"I hold my mother in my mouth", single work poetry (p. 30-31)
- Impressioni"Each night, when I'm prone, the", single work poetry (p. 36-37)
- Unfamiliari"begats and", single work poetry (p. 42-43)
- I Regard Our Wide Skinsi"the surface is the line between", single work poetry (p. 44-45)
- Clayi"i break ground evict lawn dig weeds break grass", single work poetry (p. 52-53)
- Often I Am Permutated into a Mermaidi"as if it weren't obscene enough already to make up", single work poetry (p. 58-60)
- Suburban Ghazali"footballs are kicked and slapped, soaring", single work poetry (p. 62-63)
- Lullabyi"My nieces, aged four and six, are bundled on mattresses", single work poetry (p. 64-66)
- Fluid Dynamicsi"a squatting bater bead with yocic", single work poetry (p. 68-69)
- Tom's Bluesi"Fairy Meadow has everything you need.", single work poetry (p. 74-75)
- The Cholmondeley Ladiesi"Sisters do not sit like this", single work poetry (p. 76-77)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Poetry Editorial
2018
single work
essay
— Appears in: Rabbit , no. 26 2018; (p. 6-7)'One of my earliest memories in life is set in my kindergarten classroom. I am five years old, and I am trying to make friends with a girl who has her hair tied in two ponytails, one on either side of her head. On some days, she has fluffy red adornments in her hair; her mouth is as small and as stained as a cheery. She already has a special friend. She does not want to be mine. I am trying to talk to her in class, but she raises her hand, and tells the teacher I am bothering her. The teacher puts masking tape over my mouth. I begin to cry, and the alphabet and its accompanying pictures on the chart pinned to the wall begin to blur. I cannot breathe; I am crying so hard,my nose has blocked up. A is for apple, B is for ball. The cat is yellow, the dog is brown. The teacher looks worried, and gestures to me to take the masking tape off. The girl I like puts her had up and tells the teacher. I never speak to her again.' (Introduction)
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Poetry Editorial
2018
single work
essay
— Appears in: Rabbit , no. 26 2018; (p. 6-7)'One of my earliest memories in life is set in my kindergarten classroom. I am five years old, and I am trying to make friends with a girl who has her hair tied in two ponytails, one on either side of her head. On some days, she has fluffy red adornments in her hair; her mouth is as small and as stained as a cheery. She already has a special friend. She does not want to be mine. I am trying to talk to her in class, but she raises her hand, and tells the teacher I am bothering her. The teacher puts masking tape over my mouth. I begin to cry, and the alphabet and its accompanying pictures on the chart pinned to the wall begin to blur. I cannot breathe; I am crying so hard,my nose has blocked up. A is for apple, B is for ball. The cat is yellow, the dog is brown. The teacher looks worried, and gestures to me to take the masking tape off. The girl I like puts her had up and tells the teacher. I never speak to her again.' (Introduction)
