A Tjuntjuntjara desert dog

Is howling at the moon.

Just one at first, then more join in

This ancient howling growling tune.

               [Don’t ask me why.

               It’s the just their way.

               They’ve done it every single day

               Since dogs began!]

And very soon, and very soon, 

The entire yip-yap yelping mob, 

Yes, the whole red-dirt platoon

Of Tjuntjuntjara desert dogs

Is howling at the moon.

Stewart Ennis is from Bridge of Weir, Scotland. Since the 1980s he’s worked in Scottish theatre as writer, deviser, performer and occasional photographer. He was creative writing tutor in Scottish prisons and editor of Causeway/Cabhsair magazine of new Irish & Scottish writing. His plays, poems, stories and photographs have appeared on a number of stages, pages and platforms. A debut novel Blessed Assurance was published in 2020. Recent work includes writing the children’s film animation Yoyo & The Little Auk for Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He’s currently at Curtin University for the second year of an Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance scholarship PhD in creative writing. He recently some time in wonderful Tjuntjuntjara documenting the Spinifex artists at work and play.