Ode to Anne

Ode to Anne

Anne Anastasia

Endured and Enjoyed

Travel To and From

Different Parts of the World

Painter and Opal Cutter

Silk, Linen, Cotton and Natural Dyes

Twisted and Dipped

Heated and Boiled,

Smoothing and Drying

Painting from the Centre Of Australia

And from Maroubra to Burwood

Marrickville to The Blue Mountains

Sent from Alexandria

Suez

At 15

Alone on a ship

Arrived traditionally

with her dollars

Yes, Inside of a Box

Of Turkish Delight

Then Parents with sisters,

Arrived from a past

Comfortable ‘British Petroleum’ Life—

A soberly intelligent Mama’ and Papa’

To what has Never Been

Terra Nullis

To Reactions of fear of her Big Hair,

And her packed school lunches

Containing no white bread sandwiches

Spanakopita,

Coffees,

Colourful outfits,

So many  ‘Sus’

Differences!   All rejected then While now the latest trends

Still she works

Amongst her many 

well-tended friends, beloved family members

and Her Own Passionate Artistic Practices Works and Pleasures

Cameras, Computers,

With Vacuum Cleaners,

Nappies,

Frustrating and Demanding Students

Such a logistic Non-Napoleonic Genius

Refined and and broad in her Experiences,

I wish consistent Sun

and Restorative Rain,

For My So Beautiful Opalescent Friend

Anastasia