Anna Couani’s ‘Small Wonders’

from Small Wonders

growing up in Australia

turn the corner at the pub
pass the drinkers sitting
in the north morning sun
like a chorus
constantly watching

the bearded lady sitting outside
The Skull’s house
helping out on the weekend
selling the bicycles he repairs

the Israeli bag sellers in the market
hearing Hebrew as you pass
with the occasional English word
“Wednesday” for example

with Chinese students, more likely
the English word might be “bullshit”

cycle past a friend’s garden
papaya next to the olive tree

a big bush of rosemary, roses
the little red flowers of the
Chinese lantern bush

drop by Clipper café for breakfast
“Hey I come to Glebe for breakfast
at Clipper! I love Glebe!”
peek in Gleebooks window
full of beautiful book covers

she runs through the suburb
in her mind
scanning over the hills
like on Google maps, satellite view

lived there, lived there, lived there
each address like a portal
opening onto those memories
grouped like episodes
the flat with a studio
the flat with dark blue walls
where she taught herself all those
art techniques
way back
the feminist house

women with shaved heads in
the big backyard
the new flat with a fabulous balcony
facing the highway on the opposite shore
of the harbour
watching the car headlights cascading down
the hill
collating a magazine round a big
temporary table

each place so different
down at street level