Published Poems

Published Poems

drawn
mental health
is like a night train
with carriage lights
that flicker intermittently
to illuminate faces
whose journey status
is a mystery
while platforms
frog leap into window spaces
to flash confused prints
for retinal insight
all the while
that thoughtless engine
ploughs on
venting perfunctory shrieks
that drown interior monologue
while i
at times
         also scream

First published at ‘The Perspective Project’
edited by Rachel Berlingieri June 2021
spur lines - Geoffrey Aitken | Mental Health Poetry (theperspectiveproject.co.uk)
chilled city
street scape
early mid-morning
café searching
hunger suppressant
coffee fix

homelessness
settles unreasonably
and palpable disadvantage
aggravates sidewalk sojourn
but unthinkable
if invisibility scores

First published in
‘Adelaide: Mapping the Human City’ Anthology,
edited by Deb Stewart, August 2021
“too thin
on proposals”
said the minister¹
“a three-word report
to the government
not nearly enough
to determine that platform
from which to initiate
an indigenous voice
in our federal parliament”

in the background
there was exasperation
as those gathered
immediately recalled
the pm’s position
on economic development

from the outset
he had proposed
“jobs & growth”
&,
an election was won.

Note: Senator Scullion Minister for Indigenous Affairs 2013 - 2019, appeared on “National Wrap,” ABC TV on Sunday night 7th August 2017, answering questions about “The Uluru Statement” while attending the GARMA Festival. His responses are paraphrased.

First published by ‘The Mozzie’, Vol 27, Issue 4, edited by Ron Heard May 2019
volume
on
full crank
they exit
the metro
dressed
in discount store
finery
to dance their way
inelegantly
towards
the casino
where
statistically
they will lose their
bankroll
but
for these
kings and queens

whatever
is this day out.
Poetic Sun #ISSUE4 (poetic-sun.com)
academically
many spots
are gone
the parts
taken
the roles
filled
and back here
the wait
looks ominous
while
the conversation
is finite
and
the memories
are dim
but
at the footy

the support
is still strong

First published in
‘i want that in writing’
Ginninderra Press, 2020
Edited by Brenda Eldridge
he
didn’t know
i was schizophrenic
& so
blurted out
you could shoot yourself
sending
my paranoia
to the muzzle
of a handgun
in my mouth
barrel
aimed vertically
upwards
to wonder
what i might feel
or
against my temple
&
what sort of mistake
that would be
but
unprompted
& more recently
it’s been the invitation
to steer my vehicle
across the road
into oncoming traffic
which
failed to concern my GP
not abnormal
he assured me
&
again i wondered

how many triggers are there?

First published August 2021 at ‘flashes of brilliance’
edited by Darren White
Poetry: mouth wash by Geoffrey Aitken - Flashes Of Brilliance