POETRY

Jennifer Compton—'Fool's Gold'

I am thinking of doing a rural transcription.

I may only think of it and not actually do it.

I may call it something like - On the Trail of Rosalie Gascoigne.

I may, with notebook and pencil in hand, stand by my door, and step
outside. Walk to the shop - looking for words.

I may not find words. But I will be looking. Maybe an icecream wrapper.
Maybe a road sign.

Then I will turn out of Bumballa Road (the last word I think I will
find in Bumballa Road is Twilight. Alan and Geraldine put up a house
name when Alan found he had cancer) into Railway Parade and I will
feel tense.

Because I know as soon as I reach the shop I will find so many words.

I do not know how to transcribe that feeling. Of many words
containing so much info. Precise. Cricket Club Fund Raising Trivia
Night November 19. Accountant seeking work blah blah blah
firewood for sale do not enter this shop with helmet on magnum
heaven peppermint cookies and cream

how does one transcribe extreme reaction to too many words?

Jennifer Compton lives in Melbourne and is a poet, playwright and fiction writer. Her eleventh book of poetry, the moment, taken was published by Recent Work Press in 2021.