Janet Jackson
AUSTRALIA
photo credit: Coral Carter
| Janet Jackson
(Australia, b. 1965) has written poetry since 1986,
publishing a collection (‘Coracle’, 2009) and several
chapbooks including ‘q finger’ (PressPress 2011). Fremantle
Press's ten-poet volume 'Performance Poets' (2012) will
feature her work. Janet writes songs and sometimes
accompanies poems with guitar. She frequently guests at
festivals and readings, including the 2010 Australian Poetry
Centre festival and the 2009 Queensland Poetry Festival. Her
poems have appeared in journals including Westerly, BLAST,
The West Australian, nthposition and Hamilton Stone Review.
The National Library of Australia's Pandora project includes
Janet’s website ProximityPoetry.com. Janet teaches poetry and
creative writing and coordinates Perth Poetry Club. |
despite and because
I
cannot be
what
you have lost
and you
may not be
what I
never had
but
still I long
just to
hold your hand
just to
walk beside you
on the
less-walked path
because
walking beside you
I am in
my place
because
dancing beside you
I can
truly dance
despite
and because
of your
depth and dark
despite
and because
of your
shameless voice
despite
and because
of your
heartbreak face:
when
you are dreaming
you are
just so beautiful
that I
want to die
since I
may not touch
From chapbook 'q finger',
PressPress
2011
Page 2
© Copyright, 2012,
Janet Jackson.
All rights reserved. |