JOAN FLEMING recently completed Victoria’s MA in Creative Writing. She received the Biggs Poetry Scholarship, and was the assistant editor for Turbine 07. She writes, lives and works in Wellington, in that order.


Monday in the library


Her sandals are barely shoes her legs.
Are barely crossed no right angles.
On the stairs people are shaking.
Hands are shaking out the day.
Plasters sticky on her heels.
Nearly the colour of skin.


In the arms of the leather chair.
His palm gives the temple a resting place.
In the daytime in the dark sunglasses.
The wings of the quiet book open.
In his lap maybe swimming maybe running.
A dream-race am I the only one.
To see he’s sleeping to see.
His shaking leg.


Low-slung on her hips a string.
I think they are bells to be shaken.
The bright squares making up.
Her skirt lined in silver.
He in a black suit beside.
The picture books they are holding.
Each other a while.