On Chapman Hill (title)
Let’s walk to get the city out
of our bones. I’ll show you red gums,
xanthorrea with spears, flame-tailed
black cockatoos—no strangers here
unless you hear the protea’s accent
on the evening breeze.
See, kangaroos’ paws break
the tractor tread marks, while
off that stony corner a body rusts,
wings and bonnets, flat trays
and drive shafts, welded
wildly by the elements.
Tonight, you’ll hear boobooks
stretch silence horizon to horizon
in the bright moonlight. It sends
Pancho into a barking frenzy,
shouting down the ghost in the trees -
attack’s his best line of defense.
Sure as night follows day, there’s
growth in decay. This land, once
Yamatji, is now _plotted and pieced_. By
the watertank, old Buddha stands silent,
eyes hooded among raindrops sparkling
on gum leaves in sudden sunlight.
Notes: xanthorrea are grass trees; boobooks are the most commonest owl
in Oz; Pancho is a mad retriever; Yamatji is a local tribe; 'plotted
and pieced' is from GMHopkins.
Photos of bush on my blog.
All comments welcome.
Andrew
http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
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