We’re heading out
RAV4 is ready to take us
bush, Mookerwah is calling
Skye and I, new friends
drive chats turn to politics. Just
look out the window
sometimes the best thing is to stop talking.
No agreement
and nature holds answers for me
Palestine, Israel, Sharia law and Globalize the Infatada
trying to do good
peace is an inside job
how are your insides? The man of the house
since before you could speak, thank you for having me
on this land.
I lounge on a wool blanket by the fire
she gets water from the creek
cups of tea
made in the billy
black cockatoos that call in the rain
and stinking dead kangaroo wafts up occasionally
and scarred trees from the ravages of bushfire blown over in recent gales
and stinking conflict and social exclusion
and scarred edges of the road from land management
and stinking discomfort from shallow understanding
and scarred cultures that fight each other.
The cliffs
meet the river surface
rocks above rocks below
treasure for my eyes and heart. Plovers
and magpies in the low August light
how to convey your generosity and kindness
to critics. Dehumanisation can go both ways. As ever
I hold the disparate views
reserving a place to call “my views”
my view of the casuarinas
their tiny flowers releasing their essence
and then
so much joy.


