Category: creative

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new work – atlas/pantograph punch

Briar

Exciting developments in writing life, one of which is a long time coming in a couple of ways. In the more general, longer term way, I FINALLY have a creative piece in a print literary journal. Hurrah! In the specific, shorter term way, I submitted this piece over a year ago, and it was allocated to the second issue of the journal. But now, it’s out! Issue 2 of Atlas Literary Journal is out, and my piece, ‘Trading Pain’ is in it. It’s about hospital and scary things like emergency surgery and ketamine and nasogastric tubes. I believe it’s being … Continue reading new work – atlas/pantograph punch

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coriander, basil, corn

Briar

The first plant I have ever successfully grown is a small pot of coriander. I can’t even claim to have grown it, really, just not let it die. It’s in a giant teacup that I inherited when a flatmate four flats ago left to go overseas. I kept fruit in it, but my kitchen is tiny and the teacup was relocated to a bookshelf when a rice cooker took countertop precedence. There were still oranges and kiwifruit in it, and they sat there forgotten, gently moulding. When I remembered, I put the bowl outside and it’s lived there ever since. The pot of … Continue reading coriander, basil, corn

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Salt Lick

Briar

last time all of us a smaller, self-contained, of the moment kind of all of us we sat at the water she went into the ocean her feet cautious then enraptured the elongated vowels of a toddler whose life is overwhelming/exciting/in danger pick one she’s not sure herself trying to stamp down the water as it licks her ankles swift kicks and sun hats and sandals up on the sand we watched and laughed and talked and said we’ll keep in touch Continue reading Salt Lick

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get off my lawn

Briar

the curious circumstances where the cool kids across the way off-season students play music from their kindergarten days and the appropriateness (for the unwilling listener) that the closing track of the evening is ‘suicidal girls’ because of the way that i would do truly anything to get that racket gone their speakers and voices both Continue reading get off my lawn

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2009

Briar

how 2009 began. part i. In honour of the release of Emilyn Brodsky’s new album, here is a bit of a recollection of the first time I saw her/heard of her. Which was also the first time I ever went to New York. And the first time that I saw Amanda Palmer. It’s one of those nights that isn’t easily forgotten. This is the lead-up. On the first night that I ever spent in New York, I went to a show. It was January – only just. Patti Smith wrapped up her Bowery Ballroom gig to see in the new year, and … Continue reading 2009

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Unitarianism Update

Briar

Working on various reviews at the moment (bit overworked and overwrought to pour enough energy into any single title at a time right now) but if you’d like to have a glance at things that I’ve been up to at the moment in The Real World, here links to (and snippets from) my last couple of event write-ups for Unity Books. Omar Musa visited us for his first event outside of Australia. Review and photos by yours truly. We cranked (shop-appropriate) rap tracks and made stupid/hilarious “here comes the dog!” jokes with regard to Tilly’s naughty but loved (or at least tolerated, … Continue reading Unitarianism Update