This week’s poet, Carole Abourjeili, migrated to Australia from Lebanon at the age of 12 and has had her work published in Australia and the US.

Muse

 for my friend, the artist

Pick up your brush for it is I
Sway me on your dance floor
Stroke me low, sway me high
Unearth my spirit then sway me more.

Pick up your brush for your blest hand
Shall linger its fate upon my land
Thus earth, my earth shall be your slave
To do with as you wish, it shall behave
It shall behave, for Sorcerer,
Illusionist, and Torturer;
A Magician
Conquer the Art in the heart of Titian
Thus your bountiful colours shall stand and fight
For, your joys and sorrows are my delight
Smudge your hues
Your blood thus spills
Fame your filth
Fulfil my thrills
Trait my trust with all your hues
Thus on your pain I shall amuse
Stroke my visage into your light
Almost touching yet
Not quite
Twix your blues within my bliss
Earth your soul with a gentle kiss

“Bleed my earth
Quench my soul
Pain my spirit
Paint me whole”.

Carole Abourjeili has a BA in Anthropology and Languages. She began writing poetry in Arabic and French in Lebanon, then later in English. In 2009 she published “Little Thommo Big World”, a primary school reader in English and Arabic, with illustrations by Nicole Beaumont.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems up to 30 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. A poetry book will be awarded to each contributor.