Antipodean lesbian poet, Adelaide’s Janine Fuchnukle, won this years ‘Julie’ for the best neo feminist post modernist hybrid work in 28 lines with her stunning, ‘I like her when I’m not with her.’
“It’s as always, about love and the routes we take to it or away from it,’ said the 34 year old poet who wrote the work with a generous 40,000 grant from the Adelaide Arts Foundation.
Janine, who now hopes to move to London and study beat poetry ad start a spoken word club with jazz overtones.
“You know I love the idea of people bringing their words alive, on stage, to people who are so drunk they really appreciate it.”
Nancy Anne Hagg, adjudicator, said that the ‘Julie’ was becoming a world renowned competition with entries from as far afield as France, Iran and one entry even coming interplanetary.
‘One of the woman on the Russian space station is sapphic and sent us a poem via text message,’ said Hagg, ‘And we are waiting on translation.’
‘All entries are limited to 28 lines for a good reason, said Nancy Anne, ‘It was the age at which Sappho, snapped above, hurled herself from the cliff at Lesbos, we think it fitting.’
I like her more when I’m not with her
Because mostly she’s an annoying twat
Although that’s not really true
I like her more when I’m not with her,
Because when I’m not with her,
I’m with you.
She just wears too much makeup,
And it smells like my Nana,
And I like that,
So I like her when I’m not with her,
Because when I’m with her I think I love my Nan
And to me that is simply wrong,
So I like her more when I’m not with her,
Because when I’m not with her,
I’m with you.
Sometimes when we’re out in public,
She lets boys put their hands on her skirt,
And you don’t ever do that,
You haven’t even heard the verb to “flirt’
And she wears a leather jacket,
that just isn’t leather at all,
And her specs make her eyes look tiny, ( like a possum monkey)
So…this poem is my way of telling you,
To pack your bags tight,
Cos If I dislike her this much,
Imagine how much I don’t like you
Janine
Send entries to juliepoem@thejulies.org.lesnet
