Chainsaw Poems

Archive, #18 Regional Voices, The Regional Review, #18 Poetry / By
Nick Whittock

Nick Whittock lives on Djiringanj lands in the Yuin nation. For his work he uses a battery-powered chainsaw charged on standalone solar. Nick works only on previously fallen trees. His publishing history includes hows its from inken publisch in 2014 and an ‘Australia’ calendar from Stale Objects dePress in 2016. Nick is a convenor of the annual Brogo Poetry Symposium.

1. Browed

There are 9 pages of this poem. As a note, the images described are sometimes similar in appearance so this might result in some repetitive description. The images are a series of letters and words roughly hewn in all caps into pale grey-brown logs. Page 1. There are 4 rows of images. Row 1. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘B’ carved into a log. A deep horizontal crack splits the B in half. In the top left corner is a glimpse of lush green grass. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘R’ carved into a log. A shadow falls along the bottom left corner of the log. Panel 3: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘O’ carved into a log. A small branch protrudes from the log. You can see brown grassy earth behind the log. Row 2. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘W’ carved into a log. The ‘W’ is illuminated by sunlight. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘E’ carved into a log. The ‘E’ is skewed to the left. Almost all of the log is in shadow. Panel 3: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘D’ carved into a log. Some of the bark is flaking off, creating a rugged texture. Row 3. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘F’ carved into a log. The ‘F’ is faint against the heavily textured log. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘I’ carved into a log. Panel 3: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘N’ carved into a log. The ‘N’ is carved close to a branch jutting out from the log. Panel 4: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘C’ carved into a log. It is heavily scored into the log. Row 4: Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘H’ carved into a log. Thin long shadows fall across the log. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘E’ carved into a log. The ‘E’ is skewed to the left. Panel 3: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘S’ carved into a log. The ‘S’ has little notches along its length. The letters in the panels spell out ‘B R O W E D F I N C H E S’.
Page 2. There are 3 rows of images. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of a grey-brown log on the ground. The word ‘FINCHES’ is carved heavily along the length of this log. ‘FINCHES’ is illuminated by the sun. Dry brown and green grasses are sparsely scattered around the log. Row 2. Panel 1: A photograph of a large log with the words ‘BROWED FINCHES’ carved into it. The fallen log is resting on loose earth in a parkland setting. A tree with thin and bare branches bends over the log. There are tall trees and patches of long green and yellow grass in the distance. The skies are blue with just a wisp of cloud. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘I’ carved into a log. Row 3. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘N’ carved into a log. A hovering branch bisects the ‘N’. Curved twig shadows play along the surface of the log. Panel 2: A photograph of the word ‘IN’ carved into a log. A long slender branch passes over the ‘N’. It splits the ‘N’ along its diagonal. The letters and words in the panels spell out ‘FINCHES BROWED FINCHES I N IN’.
Page 3. There are 3 rows of images. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of a grey-brown log with the words ‘FINCHES IN’ carved into it. A thick brown branch sits in the shadow of the log. In the distance is long green and yellow grass. Row 2. Panel 1: A photograph of a large log with the words ‘BROWED FINCHES IN’ carved into the log. The ‘BROWED’ is half in shadow. A small tree with bare branches hangs over the log. In the distance is a line of trees. A few clouds drift across the bright blue sky. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘A’ carved into a log. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of the words ‘IN A’ carved into a log. A couple of thin branches cast a faint shadow over the ‘IN’. Shadows play on the grass and earth behind the log. The words in the panels spell out ‘FINCHES IN BROWED FINCHES IN A IN A’.
Page 4. There are 3 rows of images. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of a grey-brown log with the words ‘BROWED FINCHES IN A’ carved into it. Several long branches lie in the shadows of this large log. The sky is blue and clear apart from one wispy cloud. Several trees line the horizon. A few trees tower over the log. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the ‘S’ carved into a log. A glimpse of sky and forest is visible from behind the log. Row 2. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘T’ carved into a log. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘A’ carved into a log. Panel 3: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘T’ carved into a log. Row 3. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘E’ carved into a log. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the word ‘STATE’ carved into a log. Some thin branches are overhanging and casting fine shadows across the log. The letters and words in the panels spell out ‘BROWED FINCHES IN A S T A T E STATE’.
Page 5. There are 3 rows of images. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of a log with ‘BROWED FINCHES IN A STATE’ carved into it. There is a cluster of trees hanging over the log and in the distance. The sky is completely clear. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘O’ carved into a log. Row 2. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘F’ carved into a log. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the word ‘OF’ carved into a log. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of the words ‘BROWED FINCHES IN A STATE OF’ carved onto an elevated log. Underneath the log is a slender fallen tree. Towering trees fill up most of the photograph. In the background is a clear sky and distant trees. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘A’ carved into a log. The letters and words in the panels spell out ‘BROWED FINCHES IN A STATE O F OF BROWED FINCHES IN STATE OF A’.
Page 6. There are 3 rows of images. Row 1. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘L’ carved into a log. A deep line scores the top of the ‘L’. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘A’ carved into a log. Panel 3: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘R’ carved into a log. Row 2. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the letter ‘M’ carved into a log. Panel 2: A photograph of the word ‘ALARM’ carved into a log. The log is a pale grey brown. Part of the bark is coming off to reveal reddish-brown wood. Uneven patches of green grass surround the log. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of a large log with smaller fallen trees underneath it. On the log is inscribed ‘BROWED FINCHES IN STATE OF ALARM’. There is a line of leafy trees in the distance against a clear blue sky. A fallen branch with many thin branches sits in the foreground of the image. The letters and words in the panels spell out ‘L A R M ALARM BROWED FINCHES IN A STATE OF ALARM’.
Page 7. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘FINCHES’ carved into a log. The log rests on loose earth. Slim branches cast fine shadows on the log. There are dry grasses behind the log. Row 2. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘IN’ carved into a log. A hovering branch cuts through the ‘N’. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of the letter ‘A’ carved into a log resting on dry grass and earth. The words in the panels spell out ‘FINCHES IN A’.
Page 8. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘STATE’ carved into a log. A branch curves against the log in the bottom left corner. There are very fine branches hanging over the top of the log. Row 2. Panel 1: A similar photograph to the one before showing the word ‘STATE’ carved into a log. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘OF’ carved into a log. The ‘OF’ is carved into a deep reddish-brown part of the log. The words in the panels spell out ‘STATE STATE OF’.
Page 9. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘ALARM’ carved into a log. The log is a pale grey brown. Part of the bark is coming off to reveal reddish-brown wood. Uneven patches of green grass surround the log. Row 2. Panel 1: A photograph of a fallen tree with ‘BROWED FINCHES IN A STATE OF ALARM’ in carved lettering. The log rests in the shade of a tall standing tree with a neighbouring stump. The sky is clear and blue. Other trees can be seen in the distance. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘BROWED’ is inscribed into the log. Shadows fall across the bottom half of the log. Expanses of green grasses and tall trees can be seen in the distance and in the corner. The visible words in the panels spell out ‘ALARM BROWED FINCHES IN A STATE OF ALARM BROWED’.

2. Boiling

There are 8 pages of this poem. As a note, the images described are sometimes similar in appearance so this might result in some repetitive description. The images are a series of letters and words carved in a rough cursive font into pale grey-brown logs. Page 1. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘Boiling’ carved into a log. There is a reddish-brown tinge to the strokes of the words. There is a strong shadow cast on the log by some tangled branches. A tuft of grass bursts out from behind the log. Row 2. Panel 1: Another photograph of the word ‘Boiling’ carved into a log. In this image the log has a reddish tinge with darker patches forming around the carved letters. There are clumps of grass behind the log. Panel 2: Another photograph of the word ‘Boiling’ carved into a log. This time, the log is in deeper shadow. Row 3. Panel 1: This is a close-up photograph of the word ‘peg’ heavily carved into a log. There are dark brown burn-like marks surrounding the lettering. The words in the panels spell out ‘Boiling Boiling Boiling peg’.
Page 2. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of a log with the phrase ‘Boiling peg’ carved into it. The log is lying on the ground among patches of dry grass and soil. There is a small cluster of trees and loose branches in the background. Mottled shadows play on the log. Row 2. Panel 1: Another photograph of a log with the phrase ‘Boiling peg’ carved into it. It’s resting in reddish-brown undergrowth and tufty grass. There is a small cluster of trees and loose branches in the background. Panel 2: A photograph of the word ‘shoots’ carved into a log. There are trees in the background and stretches of lush grass. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of the phrase ‘peg shoots’ carved into a log. The log is in the shade with a few trees and another log scattered behind it. Thick green grass shoots out in front of and behind the log. The words in the panels spell out ‘Boiling peg Boiling peg shoots peg shoots’.
Page 3. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the phrase ‘Boiling peg shoots’ carved into a log. A slender tree juts out in front of the word ‘peg’. In the background is thick shrubbery, long stretches of vivid green grass, and a scattering of trees. Row 2. Panel 1: A photograph of the letter ‘a’ carved into a log. Panel 2: A photograph of the phrase ‘shoots a’ carved into a log. Shrubbery, trees, and grass can be seen in the background. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of a log with carved lettering. The perspective is far away enough that all you can make out is the phrase ‘shoots a’. The rest of the log is shaded. A closer look reveals that the words read ‘Boiling peg shoots a’. The log is encircled by trees, thick shrubbery, and grass that carpets a hill. Small glimpses of a clear blue sky can be seen through the foliage. The visible words in the panels spell out ‘Boiling peg shoots a shoots a Boiling peg shoots a’.
Page 4. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘slow’ carved into a log. The ‘S’ is carved in a jagged and angular manner. Row 2. Panel 1: A photograph of the phrase ‘a slow’ carved into a log. There are grassy slopes and far off trees in the distance. Panel 2: A photograph of a large log with the phrase ‘Boiling peg shoots a slow’ carved into it. There are smaller trees surrounding this fallen log. The inscribed log and trees rest at the foot of a grassy hill. Row 3. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the word ‘WAY’ carved in all caps into a log. A gaping hole in the log can be seen underneath the carved word. The words in the panels spell out ‘slow a slow Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY’.
Page 5. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the words ‘slow WAY’ carved into a log. Row 2. Panel 1: A photograph of a large log with carved lettering that reads ‘Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY’ on it. The inscribed log and trees rest at the foot of a hill. The hill is covered in trees, grass, and shrubbery. Panel 2: A close-up photograph of the number ‘2’ carved heavily into a log. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of the phrase ‘WAY 2’ carved into a log. There is a smattering of moss across the wood. In the background are a few trees casting tall shadows on a grassy slope. The visible words in the panels spell out ‘slow WAY Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2 WAY 2’.
Page 6. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the phrase ‘Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2’ carved into the log. Row 2. Panel 1: A close-up photograph of the word ‘get’ carved into the log. Panel 2: A photograph of the phrase ‘2 get’ carved into the log. A small leafy branch is peeking out in the righthand corner of the photograph. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of a large log with carved lettering that reads ‘Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2 get’ on it. The inscribed log and trees rest at the foot of a hill. The hill is covered in trees, grass, and shrubbery. The visible words in the panels spell out ‘Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2 get 2 get Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2 get’.
Page 7. There are 3 rows. Row 1. Panel 1: A photograph of the number ‘2’ carved into a log. The log has swirling grooves all throughout it. Row 2. Panel 1: A photograph of the words ‘get 2’ carved into a log. Panel 2: A photograph of a large log with carved lettering that reads ‘Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2 get 2’ on it. The inscribed log and trees rest at the foot of a hill. The hill is covered in trees, grass, and shrubbery. Row 3. Panel 1: A photograph of the word ‘quaama’ carved into a log. Grass and pieces of wood lie beneath the log. The words in the panels spell out ‘2 get 2 Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2 get 2 quaama’.
Page 8. There are 2 rows. Row 1: Panel 1: A photograph of ‘2 quaama’ carved into a log. The log sits fully in the shade. Row 2: Panel 2: A photograph of a large log with carved lettering that reads ‘Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2 get 2 quaama’ on it. The inscribed log and trees rest at the foot of a hill. The hill is covered in trees, grass, and shrubbery. The words in the panels spell out ‘2 quaama Boiling peg shoots a slow WAY 2 get 2 quaama’.

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