Respond to 2025: The Year I Turned Old

The Year I Turned Old

In a shack settled on grains of sand

I trace my finger over planed dunes,

behind clean panes scoured by salt bush land.

And in my worn kitchen measure sea-strands

of peace, my lease to please no-one strewn

in a shack settled on grains of sand.

Within empty rooms, under scraped spans

I stride pared-back hallways isolated and immune,

behind clean panes scoured by salt bush land.

In my bedroom, a dusty dildo on the nightstand

I can’t muster the interest to tune,

in a shack settled on grains of sand.

This creviced body a border line banning

appeal. I skin time in peeling tides, oldness hewn

behind clean panes scoured by salt bush land.

A banner at the door disaffection’s command.

Maintain your distance under the old bone moon.

In a shack settled on grains of sand,

behind clean panes scoured by salt bush land.

Susan Francis’ second book, Revelation Beach, was released by Wild Dingo Press, 1 October 2025, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Balibo Five executions. Susan lives and works on the land of the Awabakal peoples.