for Daisy

I kissed your face, and

it tasted good

until it didn’t. Or,

I wasn’t tasting it any more,

so it tasted of nothing.

The space between our

histories, our

soft pelts and able eyes

is widening

but I am close to the ground

and not running, so

there is something to be said

for this stillness.

In the rip of time

I have sewn the torn shoulder

back to my green shirt,

re-stitched a round white button

to the pink dress,

and let my shadow slink

back from the sill

to keep me warm again.

I have lathered and rinsed my hair,

cut my fringe,

held a grubby hand up

sweating, sun drenched

new growth.

Hung out clothes to dry,

made coffee,

walked the park,

held the moon to my cheek

and got out of bed

and got out of bed

and got out of bed, and showered

and dressed and fed

this bag of bones

and sustained a life

without you.

Some days the victory

is a waving crowd of people,

is climbing the mountain

at sunrise,

is printed and bound

is framed and hung

and shining and large.

Some days,

the victory is still being here,

still mine.

Izzy Roberts-Orr is a Narrm/Melbourne writer, producer and broadcaster, Artistic Director and Co-CEO of the Emerging Writers’ Festival and a Co-Director of Broadwave podcasting network. Her practice spans sound, stage, page and public space and explores feminisms, futures and empathy.