Dark Emu     A negative space of no stars surrounded by the Milky Way There is a story that goes with it but I cannot tell it you It belongs to another It is negative space, too a story-space but I have nothing to fill it

Saffron and rose madder sea-sheet reflects in symmetry the sky On this burnished brightness waves encroach Leaden opaque they flow zinc white against the watercolour’s glow   A vision or a concept beckons bright But words which seemed so clear and pure across it spread do nothing but obscure

On an African Train     Far from Australia I have suddenly discovered Something glorious and homely Symbolic and ordinary Through a train window In Zambia To remind me of home   But as well I have found People who are fascinated When I point it out Europeans for whom it is A thing of […]

THE FARMYARD The Farmer in the Dell The farmer in the dell Hi-ho, the derry-o The farmer in the dell   The farmer births a child The farmer births a child Hi-ho, the derry-o… The farmer births a child   The child gets a cat The child gets a cat Hi-ho the derry-o… The child […]

Tasty fruit rainbow   Raspbemato Carronge Pearanana Grapple Fejoa smells perfumey in its blue-green skin Aubluegineberry   Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet? Not one   Sample a fruit Vegetables aren’t some? Aubergine is egg plant resembles an egg only in shape coloured indigo like blueberries Tomato perhaps is But all grow as fruit

Demetrius to Elizabeth   The donkeys of Hydra are sure-footed, reliable taking goods from the harbour up steep cliffs to town   Kangaroos in Australia will not carry loads their convenient pockets hold nothing but babies   These unlikely animals at unbeatable speed leap yards at a bound but only on flats   Without animals […]

April Fool   I’m looking for Spring as so many do for blossom and bulbs shy violets hold dew   What greets me is change Winds, rain and shine It’s now Autumn here but there’s no call to pine   There are strawberry guavas, feijoas and pears very few flowers but no one much cares […]