Published in Overland Issue 255 Winter 2024 · Poetry my favourite animal is the universe Eliana Gray a wolf fox with spindle legs(whose closest relative is a bush dog)strangled cry of the cuckooshrikehungry throats weeping, stretchedalways all this yearningtongues, hands, seedsthe urge to growis either noble or disgustingwords shift as the light truth followswho among us has not let the purple ricemould bloom forgotten?left the celery betrayedstayed up till one amwhen you know that’s a terribleidea!let the mushroomseat the chipboardin the laundryunder the stairsand let themconsume metoothe builders ripped up to the dirta pale root snakingconserving watertransmute or be transmutedyou’re the salp chain or the seal Eliana Gray Eliana Gray is a writer living in Ōtepoti, Aotearoa. You can find their work in print and scattered about the internet in places such as: Overland, Cordite, Landfall, The Spinoff and Bad Apple. They've been thinking a lot about whales. You can reach them on elianagraywriter@gmail.com. More by Eliana Gray › 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.
