MARGARET

Decades past her story, she told me … Her father fed her rice balls Remember with a pang, the way she said ‘If only they were here now’ Sixteen’s not many years To finish playing with books Decades later, she told me … She’d wanted to be a nurse Donned in ethereal white Eighteen, she made a pretty bride Cheeks still fresh and rose-hued An army medic, three decades aged Standing by her side She told me she wanted to go abroad Learn crafts, skills and more In all her ninety-four years on earth She never left the shore Young bride, new mother To eleven and then, to ten … She started befriending loss Not too many leap years past A huge motorbike, the only souvenir Of a husband lost too young when Ten children, nine unmarried A riot inside her and out Now, I know—how she picked up Walked miles back and forth Crafting clothes, weaving leaves, ploughing fields And feeding broods The sheltered daughter, the weathered woman I knew her in her sunset years When the strength in her arms Was the memoir in her veins Her hair had streaks of white And her eyes danced with slate-green rims She never told me in her own words Her wrinkles, closed lids and grin sang To me, then and now Of her phoenix tears MARGARET

Himani Dias

The Deakin Writers Club is a community of writers, readers, editors, and language lovers.

We hold regular events where you can work on your writing, sharpen your skill, rave about your latest reads, gain insights into the industry, form new friendships, and just have fun!

To join our community, sign up at the dusa.org.au/clubs page or scan the code! If you’re feeling inspired and would like to see your own work brought to life, submit to WORDLY Online!

We publish non-fiction, fiction, poetry, reviews, news, and anything else you want to write!

wordly

ONLINE

Submit directly to wordlymagazine@gmail.com or express your interest in becoming a regular contributor or in joining our journalism team here: