South Coast Poets Out Loud

Tantrum by Sandra Renew

The South Coast Writers Centre Season 6 Episode 16

Sandra Renew reads her poem 'Tantrum'

This poem appears in 34-37 Degrees South 2025 - An Anthology of Poetry from members of the South Coast Writers Centre. 


Fresh words brought to you by the South Coast Writers Centre

Tantrum by Sandra Renew

 

at the fault line between flight and freefall

the peak hour rattle of a mandatory train 

backgrounds the noise of the city scape

 

in the heat of morning, needing everyone ready, 

time poor, time bound, time critical,

clockwork synchronising essential…

 

a child

no words for rage

 

reactive outrage, impulsive running away, winging it

she is so fly she believes control beats gravity

when purpose and intention blur into the same

 

too late for a parachute,

even running away there’s a cornering

by unleashed, unchecked emotion

 

a little thing becomes a big thing

and then an overwhelming thing

escape into freefall—

 

tantrum