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HOLD THAT TIGER

By Chloe Wilson

That morning, in the mirror,
I’d pulled my draping cheek-skin upward.
I had shone, taut and foreign,
the gums and incisors
glistering with saliva.

While evening and the show crowds gathered,
I watched him. The chain glinked
as he traced his circle,
always stalking - even the grass
shivered under his breath.

Entering the ring, he beckoned
me to dance, laid one
paw on each shoulder
and rolled me in the dirt.

His mouth opened wide
as bedclothes, and I scented
the iron on his tongue
while he hinged his hips

and the crowd thought I was dying.

Tigers like to dine alone.
I knew this; yet stayed a moment
too long, waiting
for an invitation

and was not all that surprised
to find a joint of meat missing
from my thigh.

They hunt by pressing you
to their hearts, then
kicking out your insides
in a casual sweep.

There’s the danger.
Not, after all, in the teeth
but beneath the tail,
which, like a finger,
searches out any pleasures
the front end may have missed.

This one slid
his tongue along the contours
of my bowel,
sniffing like a sommelier.

That night, he cleaned himself
thoroughly, that supple
tongue spreading like a stingray
under the nails
and detailing the groin;

ignoring the crowd
nobly, as they shook
the metal bars
that keep them safe.

‘Hold That Tiger’ is featured in The Mermaid Problem, Chloe Wilson’s first collection that has been published as part of the APC’s 2010 New Poets Series, more details here.

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Poetry In Education

The APC believes that for poetry to flourish in this country it needs to be taught and read from an early age. The APC works in partnership with various organisations to develop educational resources, connect with young people and promote the reading, writing and appreciation of poetry.

This section is in development and the APC is actively seeking funding partners to create excellent resources for students and teachers of poetry.

For advice on bringing a poet to your school, childcare centre, detention centre, hospital - or anywhere where young people can be exposed to the magic of poetry - please contact the Centre.

Education Report July 2010

The education arm of the Australian Poetry Centre has established itself firmly in the areas of primary, secondary and tertiary education, on radio, in cafés, with publishers and within the general community.

We have established the Almeida Children’s Poetry Collection, which currently sits in the Experimedia Section of the State Library of Victoria and consists of children’s poetry as a resource for children and students visiting the Library.

We are running a multi-school  Slam Poetry competition, called Out Loud as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival 2010.  Out Loud is the first ever  youth slam where participants form teams to compete. Six schools from Wodonga to Williamstown will battle it out for the title of Victoria’s most victorious! Teams will present in  two categories: Fresh,  new and original poetry and Recycled, a cover version of a classic or contemporary poem.  There will be a grand prize plus lots of amazing individual prizes for outstanding performances and poems. Tickets are free but you have to book here.

Email Emilie Zoey Baker at education@australianpoetrycentre.org.au for more information.

We are producing a youth radio poetry show with SYNFM called “In Other Words” which aims to explore different aspects of poetry, invite guests on the program to discuss poetry and present poetry as a fun, creative, diverse form.

We are working with Amelia Walker and Macmillan Education to develop a book on poetry as a resource for primary school students and teachers, due to be launched this year.

We are working with teachers across the country to develop a poetry website as a resource for teaching poetry, called POETOPIA. it will offer lesson plans for teachers, as well as interactive poetry games and activities to engage students.

We run the Omnibus, a mobile poetry library that tours the country bringing Australian poetry and poets to a regional town near you!

We do workshops in schools - see the SUPER POETS.

We appoint School Poet Laureates - see latest updates.

We currently have over thirty cafés and Café Poets around the country.

RMIT students have begun filming our Melbourne Cafe Poets. To view these video works click here.

We are running a course this year called The Business of Poetry (linking poets to opportunities for growth and income) and more online poetry workshops according to demand. Email admin@australianpoetrycentre.org.au if you are interested.

We are interested in maintaining or re-establishing an APC National Education Committee to facilitate and coordinate our national education program and aspirations. The committee was established last year but will be reinvigorated early 2011 and we look forward to hearing from this committee as to their plans, ideas and undertakings to integrate poetry and education on a national level. If you would like to support or work with the Education Committee (especially if you live in states/territories not currently represented on the committee – QLD, NT, ACT, TAS and WA), please contact the Centre.

If you have an idea of how you might contribute to our education program, please don’t hesitate to contact Emilie Zoey Baker at education@australianpoetrycentre.org.au