Volume LII Number 451
Quadrant magazine is the leading general intellectual journal of ideas, literature, poetry and historical and political debate published in Australia.
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Poetry
The Nolans at St Kilda Pier
after Giggle Palace, 1949, by Sidney Nolan
The world was light on laughs
time to smile again
remember the family photo
just the three of you
a formal pose and formal clothes
leger-de-main, leger-de-leg
in short pants
suitable in serge
dressed in her best
illusions, allusion
backs to the horizon
blue sea-saws, meets sky
crowds would soon blow in
try to get ahead
land on their feet
over there it wasn’t giggles
and beer and skittles
to be king and queen
at the palace pier
on the bored walk
great for graffiti
for having a spray
can you paint an angry penguin
draw a line in the sand
of the lucky country