A CONTROVERSIAL DELIGHT

By Kaarthik

A bear on the outside
empty on the inside
except for the blood
under all that thick skin
Blood vampires cannot fully enjoy
processed, manufactured, marketed
A bear torn in half, insides eaten
under the synthetic sun, knifing
through the hole
Blood drank with a straw
hated, loved, detested, avoided
Processed fruit blood
— translucent, pale,
controversial.

This poem was written by one of our 2025 Year of Poetry students, as part of our special “Poetry Pairings” stall at the University of Sydney Community Festival on November 8. Visitors to the stall tasted non-alcoholic drinks of various descriptions, and paired them with excerpts from these delicious poems!