Chime by Damian Balassone

Damian Balassone’s latest book is Chime. It collects the best song lyrics, ballads and narrative poems from two earlier volumes.

Titles in the 47 page book include When the School Bell Chimed, Cunjiwindi Fair, Boxcutter Blues, The Flower Girls of Fiji, The Messiah from Moe, and – reproduced below –  Recurring Dream.

Damian has been a long-time supporter and contributor to Stereo Stories. He’s a big fan of Bob Dylan and Don Walker.

His poems have appeared in more than 100 publications, most notably in The New York Times, The Australian, The Canberra Times and The Spectator.

Recurring Dream

I catch a glimpse

of Rosa-Marie.

She’s leaving on the school bus,

but doesn’t wave to me.

Though I’m standing on my toes,

she doesn’t seem to see.

                  *

I catch a glimpse

of Rosa-Marie.

She’s leaving on the school bus,

but doesn’t notice me.

Though I’m standing in the rain,

she doesn’t seem to see.

                  *

I catch a glimpse

of Rosa-Marie

as that bus pulls away

for all eternity,

but this time as I stare,

I’m sure she looks at me

 

as if she understands

that this is the end

and she will never see

my pimply face again.

 

 

 

Chime is available on Kindle via Amazon.

Cover art by Steve Dix. ‘Eclipse’