Elsie
Wandering Thoughts
You got lost on the way home
On the route you always took
You knew it then
And we did too
It wouldn’t be the last time
You went for a stroll
That morning, in the park
Gone for hours on end
Nana lost her mind
A kind stranger guided you back
Your oblivious smile just not understanding
The gravity of it all
Your favourite league team won the cup
We reminded you
For the fifth time that day
Your bright smile lighting up your face
Your shout of childlike joy
Surprised
As if it were only the first
You laughed with me today
As if everything was fine
And for a fleeting second
The person I once knew
Shone through those clouded eyes
Your wallet, keys, licence, gone
Stashed away and forgotten
Nana turned the house upside down
As you followed
Surprised to hear that they’d gone
At night you’d sometimes wander
Through dark hallways
Confused
Nana’s gentle voice
Always guided you back to your room
You asked me three times today
How school was
And each time I gave the same answer…
“Fine, I guess” she says
But what does that mean?
I still remember my school
But not much else, it seems
Driving home from the airport
And slowly
Every street looks the same
And then it is dark
Dark like the rooms
At home, I think
Never-ending hallways
Haunt me like a bad dream
Somebody stole my wallet
Carole thought it was me
My keys were gone, my licence too
They wouldn’t let me drive
It’s quiet again
In this empty house
“Where are you, Carole?” I ask
She comes rushing back into the room
And still I sit there
Watching the tv
Author Biography
Elsie Hanson, a 15-year-old student at Oxley College in the Southern Highlands, grew up on Lord Howe Island, where her surroundings sparked a lasting love for creativity. Now an avid writer and artist, Elsie channels her island-inspired imagination into her pieces that aim to explore diverse perspectives and ideas. Her art and stories reflect a unique blend of natural beauty and thoughtfulness, shaped by both her early experiences and her curiosity for the world around her.
Book Review Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Despite my initial reluctance to read Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton, it’s a decision I haven’t regretted. My bias against “overhyped” books often leads me to miss them entirely. Two eight hour flights and a two week school trip later, I was left with an emotional truth through following the journey of young Eli Bell.
Set in the underbelly of Brisbane in the 80’s, the book follows the story of Eli and August Bell, growing up in a world of broken people and difficult circumstances. The story begins with meeting Eli’s babysitter, the “Houdini of Boggo Road”, a notorious ex-criminal, which really sets the scene for Eli’s way of life. Throughout the novel he navigates a world of crime, addiction, and personal loss. As the plot escalates, the tension builds gradually, and each chapter drew me further in, as Dalton revealed hidden details about Eli’s family, his aspirations, and the violent world lurking around them, while simultaneously creating a roller coaster ride of emotions. I simply couldn’t put it down.
Eli’s resilience in the face of trauma is what makes him so amazing. As a reader, I rallied behind him and every challenge he overcame throughout the book. What I loved about this book was how Dalton contrasts the innocence of childhood with the brutality of the adult world in which Eli lives. The drug trade, violence, and criminal underworld that surround Eli clash with his own childlike wonder, making his journey throughout the book feel surreal. Even though Eli is surrounded by so much bad, he learns that there’s good in everyone, and you have to choose what path you take.
The emotion and wisdom I took out of this raw depiction of life left me dumbfounded. Boy Swallows Universe is heart-wrenching and beautifully written, and I didn’t expect the moral lessons that I learnt from it. Overall, I think it’s definitely worth the hype.