Poem Category: Australian

Lake side
beyond the streetlights
another moon.

Face-painting
being mother
she tries it before her doll.

Up the gull-stained cliffs
no one climbs
just the bright orange dawn.

Her wreath placed …
contriving me a speech
to be remembered.

Skipping school
the cicada’s racket
in the boy’s tin can.

Old rain forest …
down in the tall light
her ancient hidden potions.

Orchard fog
the shapes apple trees make
being picked.

Carbuncle in the soil
the coming… the going…
of the bull-ant mound.

In a few tomato cartons
old books
untouched in the garage sale.

Splattering bird-bath
they ignore the woman’s stance
bent to enjoy them.