Jeanine: a portrait in some of her own words Wowee, dear friend,a year since you passed oninto that spirit worldI have no inkling of. How about that?I bet you’re laughingat our lot, these politicianswith their blabberyab and lies. Holyschmoly, how I missyour sharp tongue and your mischief;our tête-à-têtes peppered with un peu de français,ein bißchen Deutsch. And who could forget your …
Author: Hilaire
I am a writer of poetry and prose. I was born and brought up in Melbourne but have lived in London most of my adult life.
Tube now arriving at Battersea Power Station station
The new Northern Line extension from Kennington to Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station opened this morning. I've lived in Battersea for a long time, and for most of that time I never thought the mooted tube line would arrive, so I was not going to miss this historic day. The first tube out of …
Continue reading Tube now arriving at Battersea Power Station station
writing local / local writing
I'm happy to have a poem included in a new anthology, Words of Wandsworth, edited by Emily Zinkin, and supported by Wandsworth Libraries and Heritage Service and Moishe House. The anthology includes poems, short stories, art and photography by Wandsworth residents, with each contribution featuring an aspect of the borough of Wandsworth in some way. …
January was my August
I've been thinking about that 'back to school' feeling that many on this side of the world associate with the end of August and the beginning of September. For me, as I grew up in Australia, January was the long summer school holidays and the new school year began in February. August was winter, and …
June Review
June was a busy and rewarding month for me. The Wandsworth Heritage Festival, postponed from last year, kicked off at the end of May, and on the third of June Joolz Sparkes and I gave an online reading from our co-authored poetry collection London Undercurrents. We'd chosen poems that related in one way or another …
a run of knock-backs & keeping going
Despite the pandemic, last year was a pretty good year for me in terms of publication acceptances and other creative projects. This year, so far, has felt like a drought. I've submitted to quite a few magazines and not had a single acceptance. I've applied for numerous paid opportunities and, bar two or three, not …
I wanted to be Nancy
On World Book Day, I'm remembering one of my most mortifying school experiences. It was my first year in secondary school, Melbourne, the winter term, 1975. There was a day excursion, though to where I can't now remember, and we didn't have to wear school uniform. For some reason I decided I was going to …
Twelfth Night afterglow
The Battersea Society would normally host a Twelfth Night supper at a local restaurant on the sixth of January. But these are not normal times. Instead, the Society's events committee invited me to give a poetry reading on Zoom at 6pm for about half an hour. I was delighted to have been asked, but also …
a poem for the new year
seven wishes more unplugged hoursand deeper sleep air so crispit scintillates your lungs birdsong decoratingevery street a stranger’s nodwhen needed most the clock wound backon climate change a wilder lawnfrom scattered seeds in kitchens far and neara good breakfast to start each day
towards dawn
. . . and here it is - the advent window Luke Walker and I have created for the Nine Elms Advent Window Trail. Our window officially 'opened' at 5pm today and I'm very excited to share it. Please enjoy a virtual chocolate 🍫 in celebration. You can read more about the background to this …
Hilaire 