Published in Overland Issue 202 Autumn 2011 · Writing / Main Posts Ash-brie’s Old Blue Stuart Cooke for the Hillbillies stripping by the river’s old- gum language we lick the ash of brie from abysses between teeth invite licks a return to favourites to ri sing up with the smoke of strings strummed in the soil keys the churning current the mutual slap of skins whitening wildening of the walkers heightening the chomp of throat biscuits in the wooden smoke:_______ Kate’s interluding the lush messing speaks bush the being is ea(r)t(h) rotten paddies flat – ter sign – ing the sigh tolls for whom your wettening whorls when we stop we grow silent we are the photos taken by the old blue guitar Stuart Cooke Stuart Cooke’s latest chapbook, Departure into Cloud, was published by Vagabond Press in 2013. His full-length collection is Edge Music (IP, 2011). He is a lecturer in creative writing and literary studies at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. More by Stuart Cooke › 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 First published in Overland Issue 228 10 November 202311 November 2023 · Subscriberthon 2023 On the final day of Subscriberthon, Overland’s most important members get to have their say Editorial Team BORIS A quick guide to another year of Overland, from your trusty feline, Boris. I liked the ginger cat story, though it made my human cry. I liked the talking cat, too, but I’m definitely in the “not wasting my time learning to talk” camp. But reading is good. And writing is fun, though it’s been challenging […] 1 First published in Overland Issue 228 9 November 20239 November 2023 · Subscriberthon 2023 On the second-last day of Subscriberthon, Overland’s co-chief editor Evelyn Araluen speaks truth to power Editorial Team To my friends and comrades, I’m not sure if there’s language to communicate how this last month has utterly changed me. This time a few weeks ago the busyness and chaos of bricolage arts and academic labour had so efficiently distracted me from my anxiety about the upcoming referendum that I forgot to prepare myself for its inevitable conclusion.