Laura Johnson
i ignite the engine and drive to the beach
with a cooler full of drinks
while my dogs drift to sleep
the sun hugs me from behind
my back burns
callistemon petals bloom in my cheeks
grains of sand wedge between my toes
the ocean calls through a soft, pink shell
shhhhhhhh, she lulls me to sleep
i call my dogs and together we wander
down the isle of palm tree leaves
wind pushes me towards the water
i kill the engine; we’ve arrived back home
with a half empty cooler of drinks
while my dogs snore in their sleep
pitter-patter! the sun disappears
the tin roof over my head
guards me from the rain
my eyes meet the moon
she casts shadows and shapes
on the curtain, they waltz to and fro
my candle hums and flickers
before i smother it, i say goodnight
my dogs curl up against my back
i close my eyes
even now i can still hear
the sea’s soft lullaby
Author: Laura Johnson is a creative writer from Brisbane, Australia. She’s currently working on multiple projects focusing mainly on prose and scriptwriting. Laura spends her time excessively daydreaming, travelling with her friends, and walking her beloved dogs, Daisy and Leo.
Artist: Elly-Grace Rinaldis is a model and creative writer located in Brisbane. When she is not backpacking or travelling internationally, Elly-Grace enjoys socialising over a bottle of pinot noir with her friends, family and beloved cat Vera. Elly-Grace is currently studying to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Creative Writing at QUT. Her debut poetry collection titled Five Summers: An Anthology is currently available for purchase on her website www.ellygrace.com.au or locally at Avid Reader in West End. She can be found at @ellygracewrites