Published in Overland Issue 241 Summer 2020 · Poetry opacities, royal park Emily Barber out on the circle where swallows cut sky we settle, invade thigh-high grass picnic on each other stein for deleuze, a rug’s thickness shy of the australian gothic i short-throw hope like there’s no delusion, just mutual rosy opening we swapmeet sweet heady nothings, note the presence of the absence of something on one elbow, your hair backlit, you declare yourself my covid curtain lover i skirt the unspeakable: lover or lovee, see you rise on cold feet to shake the blanket backpedal, gaze on policed, peopled oblongs such empathy in your hard lockdown heart Read the rest of Overland 241 If you enjoyed this piece, buy the issue Or subscribe and receive four brilliant issues for a year Emily Barber Emily Barber holds a PhD in creative writing at the University of Melbourne. Her writing has appeared in Overland, Cordite, Verity La and Hecate. More by Emily Barber › 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.
