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.