Paris Rosemont – Another first kiss

You stand—short and stout—much

like my grandfather, who gave you to me

                                when you died.

A time-keeper; no longer keeping

time. Your hands stopped moving

                                decades ago. They are painted

neon: glow-in-the-dark green

                                                so you could always be seen. Petrified

in a mid-tock arabesque

of six thirteen. AM or PM, I wonder.

                Surely the morn: of the little I know

of you, I know you woke up to the wassail of a koel each dawn.

Except for that morning you didn’t.

Rusted slivers of the clock’s innards

                                                         line its glass belly like ashes. My thumbprints disturb

dust that has settled over it like a fine muslin shroud.

Even without a pulse, I keep this memento.

                                Other things I inherited from you:

                                                       your punctuality

                                                       your gentleness

                                                       your snaggle-toothed smile.

Paris Rosemont is a widely published, internationally award-winning Asian-Australian poet. Publications include: Verge Literary Journal, FemAsia Magazine and Red Room Poetry’s ‘Admissions’. She is delighted that her poetry finds eclectic homes, from thought-provoking literary journals to underground Glaswegian zines! Winner: New England Thunderbolt Poetry Prize 2022. Shortlisted: Hammond House Publishing International Literary Prize 2022; Born Writers’ Award 2023. Longlisted: Liquid Amber Poetry Prize 2023; Joyce Parkes Award 2022. Awarded: Atelier Artist-in-Residence Ireland 2024; Kathmandu International Artist in Residence 2024; Varuna Shanghai Lamplight Residency 2023; WestWords/Copyright Agency Fellowship 2023; Varuna Emerging Writers’ Residency 2022.

Paris’s niche is performance poetry. She has performed her original poetry in cabaret shows including Mad Bitches Inc. at the Sydney Fringe Festival 2022, Poetry Jukebox Live (commissioned by Randwick City Council) and the groundbreaking world premiere of Slam Messiah at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta in 2022, where she was commissioned to write and perform original poetic works in response to movements of Handel’s Messiah, alongside a 60-voice choir and chamber orchestra. Paris’s debut poetry collection, Banana Girl, will be published in late 2023. To find out more about Paris, please visit https://www.parisrosemont.com/