Joyce Parkes is published in Australia by, for instance, Meniscus - in the UK by PEN International, and in the US by the Broadkill Review.

Joyce Parkes

---

 

The Audacity

A smile has no accent, claims
a voice in a paper extended

to readers who also write
poetry – having Tiga Tender

that neither has a hug,
laughter, tears, a slap, nor

a handshake or a fist in
the country of black, white,

brown and yellow skins,
where accents dare to

speak of differences within
the sanctuary of sameness

and summon the audacity
to call for magnanimity.