New Poetry by Richard Hillman

aside

for Alicia

someone said that lovers saunter

and i’m trying to imagine that

with difficulty – it is late

and we need to get home

and the car headlights

make out shifting shapes

beside the old road

in this dark we expect something

will jump out at us

i feel your hand resting

on my thigh

as i ease on the brakes

going into the bends

you tell me you’re sick

of these half-lit trees

that you need out

of this darkness

and i suggest stopping

somewhere

perhaps parking

on the ridge

overlooking town

i find the turn easily

but we don’t saunter

beneath the stars

because the backseat

barely has room for two

- Richard Hillman 2012

Richard lives in Wauchope, NSW, where he runs creative writing workshops from time to time. He has had several poetry collections/chapbooks published, including Timber Country (Picaro Press) and Raw Nerve (Puncher & Wattmann). His poetry has been published widely in Australia and internationally, in print and online magazines. Richard has been a recipient of SA Arts and Commonwealth grants for his writing.