August Poetry: What’s the matter?

A poem by Annabel Wilson
Annabel Wilson is a writer from Wanaka. Her writing has been published by the Otago Daily Times, Teton Gravity Research, NZSkier, Meniscus Journal, Blackmail Press, Kiwi Diary, Critic, Debate, The Fix and Wanaka Sun. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing through Massey University and is currently working on the prequel to her recently-produced play, No Science To Goodbye. She has also just gained a residency at the Robert Lord Writer's Cottage for December.  

What's the Matter?

Matter equals energy times
the speed of light squared.
Matter is made of hydrogen,
oxygen, carbon cobalt, molybdenum.


the size of a pen”, they said.
“It will eliminate all matter.”
What’s the matter? What does
it matter? What are you, some
kind of martyr? Mater? Pater?


“The only thing we don’t deliver”,
the sign on the back of the truck read
above the photo of a giant black & white
baby


Stuck in traffic, on the way there, she
turned her gaze to the sea. What is
the matter? Does it all stay intact:
perfect, whole, complete (intactus -
untouched). Is it see-through, like
jelly? It’s just matter. What is the


matter? Walking again and again
to an empty mailbox. Waking with
the feeling of empty arms. Waking
with an idea: this is just the size of
a pen. Actually, it’s just a pen. And
with it, I write


Matter is energy times the speed of light
squared. Matter is energy dancing in form
and it goes on forever.