i
Why don’t you go and play outside
less a question than a Mum instruction
to Jungle Jim-on-TV-watching me
Before environment, there was outside
Land of apricot trees, grass, concrete, sky
Monochromed eyes adjust blinkingly to colour
Pick up a footy from under the clothesline
Bounce it a few times. What would Bomba do?
Where are the swinging vines?
ii
Tarzan lived outside, even slept in trees
I felt more outside watching him and safari-suited men
with pith helmets than in the backyard
Ah-woo, ah wooh woo wooh
mysterious deep African jungle sound
I was later told was a kookaburra
But ex-Olympian Johnny Weissmuller
did all his own swimming stunts
and patented his yell for all Tarzans to come
iii
Backyard cluttered with excess from inside
What’s this cracked tabletop doing out here?
Best deal with it with this old hammer
Now what? Bit junglier down the side
Ah, fuchsias. Tear off a branchlet
Fold it near the flower, aim and shoot!
In between the tool shed and the garage
squelch through solid Wandering Jew
to the fence - end of my outside
iv
How did that marble top get smashed?
Dad demanded, after work
Just going outside to play, Mum
bw
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