Rolleiflex ready and
aimed it right, countless
dancing moths alight
on black window glass
as Olive, now 84, takes
one late, last photograph
on a summer night
at the property
in Spring Forest.
Myriad moths pattern
the pane, mesmerised,
inner-glow attracted,
wings stark milk-teeth
snapped from inside.
Olive faces the dark,
the 73 summers
flown since her first
Box Brownie.
Taking and developing
always in black & white,
Olive forever
drawing with light.
Note
See Helen Ennis, Olive Cotton: A Life In Photography (2019).
“Moths on the Windowpane”, Olive Cotton (1995)
silver gelatin photograph can be viewed at:
https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Moths-On-The-Windowpane/DD73B85269FF89B2F846D043F2516209
This poem is included in fourW thirty-four, published by the Booranga Writers’ Centre, Charles Sturt University and launched on Saturday 25th November at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.
Riparian 