Susan Hawthorne
a penumbral eclipse that’s what they call it
that mix of shadow and light shade hidden
as if we are viewers at some entertainment
for tourists this is not the Egyptian pyramids
at Giza whose azimuth was calculated along the
desert plains no something even more humble
an Australian beach a seashore where the tide
sweeps in under the glimmering full moon
we will be in full umbra night’s shadow
and unable to see the penumbra of moonlight
our azimuth will not angle us to this eclipse
Susan Hawthorne is the author of eleven books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Her book, Cow was shortlisted for the Kenneth Slessor Poetry Prize in the 2012 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Earth’s Breath was shortlisted for the 2010 Judith Wright Poetry Prize. She was BR Whiting Resident in Rome in 2013.
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