The heat
The gusting wind
The flies that coat my shirt back
Running their little feet all over my skin
The scent of smoke and dirt
Dry grass
Skin burnt
Dehydrated
Sprinklers whirring
Welcome to the Australian summer
Out here
Magpies, beaks agape to breathe
Wings spread to catch a breeze
Leaves in the pool
Dust along the boards
A coat
Soft as velvet
That my house assumes
And it meanders over every surface
Licking like a cats tongue
Beneath my feet
Unconquerable by mop
Or dusting cloth
Permeating the air conditioning pads
So when the water trickles
Fan twirls
The smell of damp earth
Fills the room
Crickets singing in the still glowing evenings
Clapping their hands
Now the sun is beaten
Only to rise again
And suck all the cool from the air
Shingle back lizard pokes along
Snaps into a curve
Spits her tongue
If I wander near
Washing basket on my hip
I steer clear
Nasty bite
But doesn’t everything here?
From mosquito to spider
The King Brown snake that slides in the shade
As long as I make noise
He will stay out of my way
I hope
Then at night
With stone stair warm beneath my bum
The company of green frog
And a thousand lamp lit bugs
I stare out into ink black sky
A galaxy spun in pin pricks of light
My mind becomes unbuttoned and heart undone
All is forgiven
Great land
Great sun
Until my life is over and done
I won’t roam far
From out here
