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For those who have visited the Memorial Dome at Geraldton, the sadness of the loss of those young sailors and the futitlity of war still fills one though it happened over seventy years ago.

FOR THE WOMEN OF ALL THE DEAD HEROES

                 [Memorial Dome at Geraldton]    

HMAS Sydney, all lost in battle

                             with the German raider, Kormoran,

                             off the West Australian coast

                             near Carnarvon,

                             November 19^th, 1941.                                       

Is that me

that iron woman

forever waving off her hero? 

Can you hear

from that place of garlanded mermaids

and siren songs? 

Your loins are hard and moist, my love.

I feel your corded muscles against my softness.

My milky breasts leak upon your chest.

Our daughter laughs and gurgles

while we make our son. 

Your lips are mine.

My body fires to your caress.

I cry my desire

and awake

to touch a vacant place. 

The hope that blazed has faded

to this wizened old woman

who now is me. 

And you.

A tiny seagull spreading its wings

on a dome of glass. 

Laurel Lamperd