Published in Overland Issue 252 Spring 2023 · Poetry Self-portrait as fox with Arctic hare Damen O'Brien The worm of white on white, the whey and milk of white, the chalk on milk and the bone, break of bone, egg-wash and acrylic, ash, soft drifts of ash, hoarse coughs of ash, snow also, laid lightly on snow, piled on it, blindingly bright, blanched, bled and white static, brushed pallid, ivory as fluttered wings, alabaster as an empty bowl, wan drone as drowse in a muted horn, blank like a slogan, no, like a flag, clean, crisp, like cut timber, plain, spotless as sheets, as an accusation, as a cancellation. Can you see me? I said: can you see me? I am there, I am there, I am the killer in the centre of the picture, I am the tooth and the wound and the nail, white on the white on the white on the white. Damen O'Brien Damen O’Brien is a multi-award-winning poet based in Brisbane. Damen’s prizes include The Moth Poetry Prize, the Café Writers Poetry Competition, the Magma Judge’s Prize and the New Millennium Writings Award. His poems have been published in New Ohio Review, Arc Poetry Journal, Anthropocene, Aesthetica and many other journals. Damen’s first book of poetry is Animals With Human Voices. More by Damen O'Brien › 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 5 November 2025 · Poetry Force posture agreement Miroslav Sandev The men of Darwin have all taken their rottweilers / out for a walk at the same time. / For our protection. Like Pine Gap: / all those big white eyes that scan / the darkening horizon. / The eyes stay woke, so that we may sleep. / Or so they say. 1 22 August 202522 August 2025 · Poetry starmight K.A Ren Wyld Ending genocide and apartheid is the story. Palestinian liberation is the story. / Aboriginal rights is the story. Truth, justice, treaties and land back is the story. / Global Indigenous peoples’ solidarity and joy is the story. Kinship is the story.