shot glass
title
"... brevity is the soul of wit ..."
- William Shakespeare

Bio


James Gering is a diarist, poet, and short story writer. He is the Australian Society of Authors Emerging Poet of the Year, 2018 and teaches at The University of Sydney. Publication credits include Rattle, San Pedro River Review, Star 82 Review, and Meanjin. His collection of poetry, Staying Whole While Falling Apart, has been accepted for publication in 2021. James lives in the Blue Mountains, where he climbs the cliffs and rappels the canyons in search of Rilke's solitude, Chekhov's humility, and escape in general. He welcomes visitors at jamesgering.com


James Gering


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Aaron's Grandmother

She slows near a rusty gate – kind of familiar, it's hers.
The worn path meanders to her gaping front door.
Shadows press close and chaperone her to the attic.

She fingers relics, thumbs through albums
showing her unscathed, eyes suggestive of someone home.
She throws a paperweight and topples a filing cabinet,

drawers slamming open. The shadows swoop and excavate,
cart away memories in dying light, leave dim tracks
and a calling card – blank on both sides.