Claire Doble - author, writer, editor, poet

My poems stopped showing up, but they're still here

sour weeds   it roars in my head when it’s quiet otherwise low-level vibes through the walls of my room can’t tell if it’s real or a trick an ear-frequency of tinnea perhaps everything smells old and I’m…

My word for 2024 will be creativity. Will try to write more and now have my novel turn into a Chinese Democracy (although, to be fair, it did eventually come out!). Inspired by Axl Rose. (The good bits, not the bad bits.)

Other artists inspire me I wonder if W. Axl Rose is a baker. It’s a delightfully idiosyncratic thought: sitting down to a slice of sponge prepared by the lead singer of Gunners. You know it would be perfect. He’s a massive…

In another amusing twist of fate or destiny or conditioning I’ve bought the same kitchen table as my parents to go with matching knifes and our bread tin a set of sheets so many things it’s dirty on the underside with old wine when I thought I was so clean dust in the bathroom like mum’s I guess it is conditioning Photo by Paco S on Unsplash

the same things In another amusing twist of fate or destiny or conditioning I’ve bought the same kitchen table as my parents to go with matching knifes and our bread tin a set of sheets so many things it’s dirty o…

sometimes think I am the person who doesn’t notice other people don’t get along because they see me lollop up to their relationship like an enthusiastic puppy so they smile pretend because they don’t want to hurt my feelings or destroy a loyal naivety of course might just be overthinking and egotising after all would anyone change their behaviour for me? Photo by Marliese Streefland on Unsplash

Boz the dog sometimes think I am the person who doesn’t notice other people don’t get along because they see me lollop up to their relationship like an enthusiastic puppy so they smile pretend because they don…

it came in the night driving and thick a vertical virtual wall of precipi… tation - wind rumples through the eves crunkling the cardboard taped to my ceiling “spielkiste” from the last time - my spiders watch from the opposite corner of the room their spindly legs like stripped upside down umbrellas - dehumidifier hums on 80% carpets still feel damp - the rains are here again Photo by Anna Atkins on Unsplash

rain like february   it came in the night driving and thick a vertical virtual wall of precipi… tation – wind rumples through the eves crunkling the cardboard taped to my ceiling “spielkiste” from the last…

he asked what supplements I was taking don’t believe in them I said but omega, magnesium, muti-B, C, zinc we talked about kim gordon, the prodigy, nine inch nails, I didn’t admit I’d deliberately listened to phil collins that day although it arguably says more about my health -or otherwise than a handful of encapsulated vitamins and whether I’m a nose breather at night

kim gordon he asked what supplements I was taking don’t believe in them I said but omega, magnesium, muti-B, C, zinc we talked about kim gordon, the prodigy, nine inch nails, I didn’t admit I’d deliberately l…

I remember when you lied about how you knew me said we were old friends from school but we'd only just met really introduced by him when he moved in had nothing in common except I liked cars and you had one we hadn't come separately but driven in that was my lie so now we're even Photo by Christina Langford-Miller on Unsplash

lies I remember when you lied about how you knew me said we were old friends from school but we’d only just met really introduced by him when he moved in had nothing in common except I liked cars …

I live in spider city land of grey webs spindly legs and glitter moving delicately staking territory gossamer strands mark invisible lands my octo-eyes observe the corners of my fortress don’t look up or disturb me tick, tick, tock taking stock my demesne well-lit or gloomy silvery womb my children quicken near invisible against white walls traverse silken skyscrapers and exquisite sprung floors Photo: Unsplash

So pretty / spider city I live in spider city land of grey webs spindly legs and glitter moving delicately staking territory gossamer strands mark invisible lands my octo-eyes observe the corners of my fortress don’t look…

trapped in someone else’s dream again backed into harness, thrown the reins to them taken the bit willingly stupid, she try to do right looks a lot like acquiescence from behind the bridle nice don’t win fights easy to ride the least-resistant road galloping by questions of true desire

harness trapped in someone else’s dream again backed into harness, thrown the reins to them taken the bit willingly stupid, she try to do right looks a lot like acquiescence from behind the bridle nice don…

do you, do you, do you love me yet? do you, do you have you fallen no regrets fu***ng on a mattress on the floor you had no furniture at all for months lived in your car do you do you have you succumbed you hobo? staying up late frantic words words, words, type, write, text don’t speak the words…...

http://clairevetica.com/2022/05/09/do-you/

do you do you, do you, do you love me yet? do you, do you have you fallen no regrets fu***ng on a mattress on the floor you had no furniture at all for months lived in your car do you do you have you succ…

I sat with my ex in his garden on a cold, bright sunny day in Melbourne we hadn’t slept together the night before. He lived there with his girlfriend an arty chick he met in London I never knew her well. She was right to be uncertain he was mine for the taking. And I blew off my old best friend....

http://clairevetica.com/2022/05/08/sunshine/

Sunshine I sat with my ex in his garden on a cold, bright sunny day in Melbourne we hadn’t slept together the night before. He lived there with his girlfriend an arty chick he met in London I never knew her…

birdtrackskythreatheartcrack the wave swirls upwardsto greet meI swear it knowswhat i needwish it would tell meout loud waterwordsare hard to read Photo: Claire Doble

http://clairevetica.com/2022/01/12/waterwords/

Waterwords birdtrackskythreatheartcrack the wave swirls upwardsto greet meI swear it knowswhat i needwish it would tell meout loud waterwordsare hard to read Photo: Claire Doble

I really enjoy artist collaborations. They end up so much more than the sum of their parts. A friend and filmmaker, David Bugeja of Catmari Productions, was inspired to create a video clip for my recently recorded poem Darksparkle. To be honest, it makes my reading sound a bit shabby! But I adore what he's done here.

http://clairevetica.com/2021/12/30/darksparkle-video-clip/

Darksparkle – video clip I really enjoy artist collaborations. They end up so much more than the sum of their parts. A friend and filmmaker, David Bugeja of Catmari Productions, was inspired to create a video clip for my r…

I wake to the taste of stop n grow bitter, sweet with nostalgia heavy, hot air laden with Christmas tree and the dreamsnorts swirl make me old, young, like a glitch between childhood and progeny the way your eyes light when you play a song beered-up footy men get teared-up to singing along my heart catches like a fingernail in tulle…...

http://clairevetica.com/2021/12/18/high-hopes/

High hopes I wake to the taste of stop n grow bitter, sweet with nostalgia heavy, hot air laden with Christmas tree and the dreamsnorts swirl make me old, young, like a glitch between childhood and progeny th…

Stretch marks on the ocean silvery, tired trying to remember I'm vast sparkling, a mother fu**er more than, enough can’t be contained, tamed in a single glass wine? whiskey? why? I yearn somedays, mostly Sundays afternoons for self-absorbed oblivion a sweat-beaded bottle might provide those sweet lies politician in a suit sneakers and no tie Modern. Woman. leaning in hi!...

http://clairevetica.com/2021/12/12/stretch-marks/

Stretch marks Stretch marks on the ocean silvery, tired trying to remember I’m vast sparkling, a mother fu**er more than, enough can’t be contained, tamed in a single glass wine? whiskey? why? I yearn some…