Austerity


The person honourable, the crimes austere.
In circumstances of woodland decay
           well suited to delinquency
she got her youthful face for a song.
Now she’s over it, 
           fortune favours etc.
Fortis non ferox. 
The mood’s hard driving and it’s dirty work.
           Paradiastole prevails, 
redescribing vices as virtues.
Stoic, sceptic, epicurean: count the lessons
           and clean up as you go.
Inculcate the sense of a person speaking
to someone who cares.

Kate Lilley

Kate Lilley is a contemporary Australian poet and academic.

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