‘Dance’ by Jessica McCallum at His Majesty’s Theatre, 2009. #jessicamcallumartist
May 29, 2014 9:49 am
I love how sometimes a poem ends up taking you to all sorts of places you don’t expect.
‘Dance’ by Jessica McCallum at His Majesty’s Theatre, 2009. #jessicamcallumartist
My poem “My Life as a Sari” has appeared alongside beautiful artworks.
POETRY POSTCARD available from Jessica McCallum
An excerpt published on a postcard.
#IndigoJournal
And published in the INDIGO JOURNAL of West Australian Writing, Vol 3 published by INDIGO books and received lovely comments.
Fremantle Press have recently become on-line partners with the original publishers of the journals and have always been tremendous supporters of those who write in Western Australia, quietly promoting and encouraging new, emerging and established writers by putting their money where their mouth is.
As a result of my inclusion in the journal, Fremantle Press also interviewed me about my writing and particularly, this poem.
My Life as a Sari
Securely tuck your fears under elastic
at the centre of your waist with your left hand,
and with your right, hold the remaining
metres of spun silk – your future, facing inside.
Measure the drop of the fall
and it’s finely stitched edge
for correct positioning against heels.
Wrap yourself in the gossamer fold,
swirling the diaphanous film behind
but stay level and wedge the top border
into your petticoat.
Like a bride preparing herself,
you are now ready to pleat.
At a distance from the last fixing,
hand-measure the delicate veil,
embroidered with details
important to who you are
toward the middle of your body.
Some may need five pleats, some six.
Less is more. Another judgement held on show
– a statement of size, however graciously it moves.
Securely fix the perfumed fanning
and grasp what is left, bring it back around
to wrap warmly and return to the front.
These days, you can choose to gather all loose
ends onto your left shoulder, secured with a jewel.
But many prefer to throw the remainder
over, remembering to hold an arm half bent,
letting the end float freely – the beaded
edge skimming the inside of your wrist.
Frances Macaulay Forde © 2009
#francesmacaulayforde
Posted by Frances Macaulay Forde
Categories: Art, Dance, Love, Perth City, Poetry, Theatre, WA Writers, Writing
Tags: Frances Macaulay Forde, Fremantle Press, Indigo Journals, Jessica McCallum, Poem, Poem: My Life as a Sari, poems, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, Western Australia, words, writer, writing
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[…] Her version of the poem later appeared in INDIGO JOURNAL Vol3 (2010) which also included another of my poems “My Life as a Sari”. […]
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