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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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School Poet Laureates

The APC School Poet Laureate Program aims to raise the profile of poetry within Australian primary and secondary schools by increasing student ownership of and involvement in poetry, and by recognising students who are particularly passionate about literature and/or poetry.

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CURRENT SCHOOL POET LAUREATES

Neha Saini Year 8; R-12 School Plympton, SA

Georgia Richards Year 9; R-12 School Plympton, SA

Blessings Chikandra Year 12; R-12 School Plympton, SA

Darryl Do Year 10; R-12 School Plympton, SA

Callum O’Connor Year 9; Eltham College, VIC

Hayley Yip Year 12; Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College, VIC

What Is the School Poet Laureate Program?

The School Poet Laureate Program is a new initiative being launched by the Australian Poetry Centre in 2010. It aims to raise the profile of poetry within Australian primary and secondary schools by increasing student ownership of and involvement in poetry, and by recognising students who are particularly passionate about literature and/or poetry. Each participating school will select a student to be the poet laureate of their school. An APC representative or poet can come to your school to announce the appointment. The schools and students will be featured and published on the Australian Poetry Centre website and the APC can provide assistance with getting the school and student some local media attention.

What Is the Role of a School Poet Laureate?

The role of each school poet laureate is negotiable between student and school. Here are a few suggestions for activities a school poet laureate could undertake. Please feel free to pick and choose from the list, and to devise new ideas of your own.

· Writing and delivering poems for special occasions (eg. graduation, sports day, inductions)

· Assisting teachers to select poems for school newsletters or yearbooks

· Being student representatives for Australian Poetry Centre events or occasions (eg. Launching a children’s poetry collection or speaking on our student poetry radio show, Lit Happens)

· Editing a ‘zine’ or photocopied booklet of student poetry to distribute around the school

· Organising a poetry wall within the school to display their own and other students’ writing

· Running lunch-time or after school open mic. poetry readings / workshops with other students

· Showing a general enthusiasm for poetry and sharing this with other students

What Can the School and Student Gain from the Program?

· Each Student Laureate will have a poem published on the Australian Poetry Centre’s website

· Each school will be featured on the Australian Poetry Centre’s website

· Schools and students will also be named in ‘Zest’, the Australian Poetry Centre’s e-zine

· The APC will provide schools with information about publishing and other opportunities for young writers

· For students it is a great CV builder and may be the first step towards bigger things in poetry

· For schools it is good publicity, plus it can boost student enthusiasm in an often difficult area of study

· It is a national program and all School Poet Laureates (and schools) involved will become part of the Australian School Poet Laureate community (and be connected with each other)

What Does the Australian Poetry Centre Expect from Schools and Students?

The Australian Poetry Centre requests that schools remain committed to the program for at least 12 months; that schools (via the students) remain in touch with the APC and use the APC to further promote poetry in their schools; that each Student Laureate provides at least one poem for publication on the APC website; and that schools agree to be named on the website. It is not required, but would be appreciated if schools could also provide short statements about their experiences with the School Poet Laureate program.

How Can My School Get Involved?

· Step One: Select a student to be your School Poet Laureate (see below for advice on how to do this)

· Step Two: Send a short email stating your intention to be involved in the School Poet Laureate program to admin@australianpoetrycentre.org.au

· Step Three: The APC will be in touch with you to discuss how it can assist you with the announcement of your Laureate and program – how it can be tailored to suit your needs - please also attach a student poem for publication on the student website

· Step Four: The APC will inform you when your students’ poem has been published on the website and offer other opportunities for your student and school to be involved with

· Step Five: Stay in touch with the APC. Let us know how things are working and how we can support you

Advice on Choosing a School Poet Laureate

The choice of a School Poet Laureate is ultimately up to the teachers within each school. In some cases, a particular student will stand out as holding a particular passion for poetry. In other cases, there may be many students who could make good laureates. In the latter situation, we suggest asking the students to submit a short application. The application could include examples of their writing, plus a half page statement about why they would like to be the Poet Laureate and what sorts of activities they would like to undertake. You may like to explain that this selection process will be based upon the same processes used when ‘real’ writers and artists apply for grants.

The School Poet Laureate does not necessarily have to be the best writer in the school. It is much more important that they show an enthusiasm for poetry.

The definition of poetry should be broad and all-inclusive. The School Poet Laureate does not necessarily need to take interest in classic literature. A school poet laureate with a passion for hip hop, songwriting, contemporary poetry and / or experimental poetry could make an excellent choice.

Schools may choose more than one Laureate (eg. one junior school, one middle school and one senior school).

When’s The Deadline?

The School Poet Laureate Program is ongoing and expressions of interest are welcome at any time.

Where Can I Find More Information?

Email admin@australianpoetrycentre.org.au

Phone (03) 9094 7826