Erina Booker
Sitting here lulled by the balm of your stay all possible beds occupied overnight with the Sheltie watching over us from his bed between rooms two grandsons nestled in doonas sheets and pillows sound asleep in the lounge room my daughter, their mother, next to me sharing my double bed time has turned me into the matriarch of this coterie of generations and I will fulfil this role with gratitude and care I feel the energies of connected souls surrounding me and am replete, we form a web – dew-dropped snow-flaked sun-lit we are unbreakable despite some overt manifestations: signs of pain always surpassed by the gift of love.
Contextual Essay: The source of this poem, ‘Links’, came from an extremely hot day in the city where I, my children, & grandchildren, live. On this particular day my daughter called me to ask if she & her sons could stay overnight at my home, enjoying the air-conditioning. I said to come at once.
I morphed the lounge room into a bedroom, shifting furniture so the boys could not roll out of bed, but be safe. They went to sleep almost immediately.
When I looked over the scene, once we were all settled, I felt profound gratitude to have them all with me, & to have been able to provide what they needed. My sense of wellbeing was at a very high level.
Erina Booker is a Sydney-based poet. Her life revolves around poetry, from publishing books and contributing to journals, including tanka journals, &, also, anthologies, including those of Vita Brevis Press. Erina regularly recites her poetry at public events, & enjoys giving seminars. She contributes ekphrastic poems to art galleries, works regularly with artists and craftspeople, and actively supports poetry within her local community.
Her qualifications include a major in Literature within her Bachelor of Arts degree, & a Post-graduate degree in Counselling. Erina knows the value of words, & the pauses between them.
Old Water Rat Publishing 