Published in Overland Issue 242 Autumn 2021 · Poetry a brief story about hands Debbie Lim I woke to find my hands humming in the dark hands I said what have you done? where did you creep? what did you plunder? my hands did not answer simply lay upon the sheets still humming dreaming perhaps of a great hand-shaped cloud travelling steadily onwards deep into the night hands I cried what terrible thing have you what forbidden and was afraid to switch on the light not knowing if I would find my hands blackened with bees or breathing some cold song or worse no longer even mine Read the rest of Overland 242 If you enjoyed this piece, buy the issue Or subscribe and receive four brilliant issues for a year Debbie Lim Debbie Lim was shortlisted for the Peter Porter Poetry Prize in 2022. Her chapbook is Beastly Eye (Vagabond Press) and a full-length collection, Bathypelagia, will be published by Cordite Books in 2025. She was born in Sydney, where she lives on Darramuragal land. More by Debbie Lim › 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.
