Compare and contrast

"Compare and contrast"
a direction from essays
now words to live by

As stars fade from view

As stars fade from view
air still warm from yesterday
today will cook soon

My concentration

My concentration
without an itch to be scratched
life before Facebook

While twiddling my thumbs

While twiddling my thumbs

a sense of productivity

love online projects

Blankets muffle sound

Blankets muffle sound
I’ll retreat to bed to heal
anechoic heart

If the label fits

If the label fits
your knee-jerk nationalism
Oi oi fucking oi

Like a narrative

Like a narrative
leads one to a perspective
so does driving roads

A shooting star streaks

A shooting star streaks
a plane passes overhead
like ships in the night

Evading capture

Evading capture
running loose in the top paddock
those obsessive thoughts

Mid-summer rainfall

Mid-summer rainfall
a Butcher Bird's mournful song
my favourite sounds

Effortless tears fall

Effortless tears fall
connect me with ancestors
as I cut onions

Dogs barking last night

Dogs barking last night
a neighbour's cat taunting them
circling past their yard

Bathed in blue-red glow

Bathed in blue-red glow
holding ends of the rainbow

our sunset last night

A phenomena

A phenomena
did my eyes adjust to dark
or is it first light?

My little foible

My little foible
central to my character
easily dismissed

Earth is easy mode

Earth is easy mode
every other planet
wants to kill humans

Cynicism is

Cynicism is:

• void of positive outcome
• void of agency

She finds Gibran naff

She finds Gibran naff
"Where did poetry hurt you?"
Some time I must ask

Cunnamulla dream

Cunnamulla dream
"mother-in-law" I was told
no mention online

At night it's louder

At night it's louder
as noises between my ears
swirl without context

Public art danger

Public art danger
rhino sculpture by the road
nearly causes crash

With each rejection

With each rejection
possibilities open
I feel empowered

Orange sideburn hair

Orange sideburn hair
glowing in the morning sun
before turning grey

School had health hustles

School had health hustles
when I devised the routine
everyone died

Absorb the details

Absorb the details
know where to look for the plot
watch the same film twice

Wonderful dream

Wonderful dream
I learned to ride an eagle
you climb on their tail

Treat yourself kindly

Treat yourself kindly
better than your partner does
learn to love yourself

Across the country

Across the country
acrid smoke stings our eyes
future is unclear

Rosedale holidays

Rosedale holidays
long ago but part of me
now they're memories

Hear the words spoken

Hear the words spoken
when people want your advice
they will ask for it

I open the door

I open the door
my skin tightens from hot air
checking an oven

Stained by bushfire smoke

Stained by bushfire smoke
a painterly quality
filters the sunrise

Awaiting a meal

Awaiting a meal
ignoring rabbits nearby
a well-fed eagle

Happiness consumes

Happiness consumes
finishing items from fridge
then shopping for more