Teen Cusp: 1

David Howard

For Rowena & Saskia

every adolescent has that dream every century has that dream
every revoluntionary has that dream, to destroy the family.

Gertrude Stein

Our neighbour loses the sun
Dad warms his hands on the red of a rooster's comb.

The sou'wester corners our hen house without
slowing. It bunts the Black Doris plum before

dropping. Blowflies migrate from the dunny, one
circumnavigates the stove's slowest element.

I want to turn on the gas but Mum says
Stay away from there! As if there was anywhere

special. Besides, my hair is tied back.
Instead I will draw another sun, a black one.