Poem Category: Australian

almost skeletons
the drought farmed
day to day

Sun dried
a garland of flowers
around Laurel’s neck

boarding school
I try on
my father’s face

tot and I gardening
in a turned log
the dank smells of re-growth

clinging
to the top bed sheet
this humid place

neighbour’s rumour
of a wife left
school bells ringing

long drought
the farm’s debt
in our marriage

grandma’s lunch
we pull up chairs
for the late ones too

dancing flames
the kettle whistles
in our rushed breakfast

neighbour’s rumour
of a wife left
school bells ringing