Published 26 July 202426 July 2024 · Poetry / Friday Poetry Song of despair πO F of H front of house ●●N of C night of clubbing ● Q of P queues of people ● D of I declaration of identity ● C of M calamity of manners ● B of B bitterness of birthO of G outburst of gunfire ● O of G outbursts of gunfire O of T outburst of tears ● A of B atrocities of books ● B of L babel of lips● C of W cries of women ● B of B beasts of burden ● S of L sunshine of life S of C screams of children ●● S of B shadow of birth ● C of B calamities of bullets ● ● P of L peals of laughter ● S of D state of disaster● E of T era of terror ● A of T avalanche of trauma ● P of T pitbull of teeth ●C of G clash of Gods ●C of T clash of Titans ● M of S myriad of stars ● W of F waving of flags I of C index of characters ●● U of T upholders of truth ● M of S men of steel ● ● B of P birds of paradise ●P of P pictures of podiums ●L of P life of pageantry ● H of F handshake of friendship T of M taunts of megalomaniacs ● ● H of A horsemen of apocalypse N of W nobility of worth ● ● E of S evaluation of stocks ● A of C atrocities of China ● A of I atrocities of IndiaA of R atrocities of Russia ● A of S atrocities of Syria ● A of A atrocities of Australia ● F of T fulness of truth ● P of W perils of warR of M reign of missiles ● P of P pride of place ● C of L complexities of life ● R of T reign of tanks C of A cries of anguish ● S of C screams of children ● D of W destruction of wardsH of W horrors of war ● D of L destruction of landscapes V of P voices of people ● ● R of G regardless of God● R of G regardless of Gods ● R of W rights of wrongs ● ● W of W wrong of wrongs B of P birds of prey ● D of C destruction of cities ● D of V destruction of villages ● ● D of T destruction of towns ● E of T eloquence of tongue I of F intensity of faith ●P of M peace of mind ● N of G nectar of Gods ● R of M rivers of mud ● S of T searchlights of tunnels ● ● F of F forests of facesT of D tiers of despair ● B of C bombing of civilians ● C of C curl of contempt ● S of D structure of despair ●● A of S atrocities of strength ● A of of A atrocities of lies ● A of B atrocities of bombing●C of B crudities of belonging ● ● S of S scarves of smoke ● H of D hospitals of boneR of L realities of life ● L of I light of icons ● T of S taste of soupN of T news of today ● P of T part of that ● D of G deeds of God ●C of R cities of rubble ● D of D deeds of Dogs ● B of C bones of contention ● V of S verses of songV of W verses of wrongs ● C of A coat of arms ● C of T columns of tanks ● C of M columns of men ● C of E chain of eventsG of B garble of bombs ● ● D of D darkness of despair● S of S silence of streets ● E of D empty of drink ● ● L of M light of moonF of F fleet of foot ● B of F blowflies of fate ● ● B of D body of dirt I of L intervals of leisure ● P of M peace of mindG of T garble of thinking ● P of A prerogative of ancestry L of L labour of life ● L of S life of sport● R of L realities of life ● O of S out of smokes ● O of B out of beer ● H of S heart of stone ● B of C bag of cement ● C of T clarity of thought ● R of W rights of wrong S of L solution of liquids ● ● S of R smoke of remembrance ● ● S of R smokes ● of remembrance ●Image: David Meenagh πO πO is a minor famous poet who is going to win the Nobel Prize for literature. His new & selected poems Big Numbers, Fitzroy — the Biography, Heide (which won the Judith Wright Calanthe Award in 2020, and shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award) and his latest The Tour. Currently edits the poetry magazine Unusual Work. More by πO › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 8 November 20248 November 2024 · Poetry Announcing the final results of the 2024 Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers Editorial Team After careful consideration, judges Karen Wyld and Eugenia Flynn have selected first place and two runners-up to form the final results of this year’s Nakata Brophy Prize! 6 November 20246 November 2024 · Poetry TV Times Kate Lilley I try out for Can Can after school / knowing I’m not cut out for the high kicks / Ballads chansons show tunes ok / I can belt out Judy Garland and all the songs from Oliver / “Who Will Buy”/”As Long as He Needs Me” / Wher-e-e-e-ere is love