A weekend away

A weekend away
mapping our intersection
told in six haiku

Natural retreat
animal spirits refreshed
washed by the river

Chirping among trees
our thoughts flew like birds at dawn
in all directions

Your warmth like the sun
fish jumped from those mottled eyes
your smiles seemed like bait

Challenging questions
a gentle vivisection
my heart feels exposed

We built a campfire
flames danced on questions of would
embers like your cheeks

Now filled with new words
after our time together
your cat missed my tongue

Along the Murray

Along the Murray
beaten through River Red Gums
paths of fine grey dust

Waves roll over me

Waves roll over me
salt water soaks into skin
balancing my scales

I think in darkness

I think in darkness
briefly illuminated
realisation dawns

Flowing like water

Flowing like water
octopus runs to the sea
before vanishing

Among the rock pools

Among the rock pools
cut from sea communities
awaiting high tide

Bubbling at the mouth

Bubbling at the mouth
arms raised and ready to fight
crab guards a crevice

When the light is off

When the light is off
I can no longer discern
the direction home

Party in the trees

Party in the trees
loud colourful characters
Rainbow Lorikeets

The beach arcs northward

The beach arcs northward
wave after wave crashing down
as sand reflects light

Rising and falling

Rising and falling
wearing away at the shore
the sea never stops

Old stones over time

Old stones over time
the motion of the ocean
crumble into sand

Clouded horizon

Clouded horizon
curtain hanging in the east
hiding the sunrise

Bugs on the windscreen

Bugs on the windscreen
our canary in the mine
warning of collapse

Disempowering

Disempowering
professionalism cult
remain amateur

It’s not a myth take

It’s not a myth take
Poseidon prefers photos
taken in profile

Birdsong falls silent

Birdsong falls silent
under leaves they hide from hawks
circling overhead

Dawn dancing on leaves

Dawn dancing on leaves
glossy again after rain
radiating tree

Greensleeves melody

Greensleeves melody
echoes throughout holidays
stalking my children

Awake to chainsaws

Awake to chainsaws
after dreams of barren parks
cue anxiety

You're searching deeply

You're searching deeply
my heart feels undressed gently
eyes closed to your gaze

Crows fly to the west

Crows fly to the west
dance on the river floodplains
sleep under the stars

I dreamed of salad

I dreamed of salad
sandwich within a sandwich
it tasted tasty

Crows and cockatoos

Crows and cockatoos
circling my town this morning
after autumn rain

If birds knew words

If birds knew words
as sun rises each day
I'd hear headlines

Like some trick of light

Like some trick of light
broken white lines on blue sky
waves of Corellas

Little victories

Little victories
lurking under piling angst
hidden for later

Microscopically

Microscopically
your cells are in my body
you are part of me

This thick crust gives way

This thick crust gives way
revealing comfort and taste
to deliver you

When I'm sliced open

When I'm sliced open
you fill me with wholesome love
butter me with salves

She showed me her heart

She showed me her heart
hungry for intimacy
I was distracted

In my dreams I'm high

In my dreams I'm high
you're carrying magazines
we talk politics

Our magnetic fields

Our magnetic fields
crackle as we overlap
tingling sensations

Sitting in the dark

Sitting in the dark
chill returns to the morning
sun rises later

Enjoy the silence

Enjoy the silence
swimming deep underwater
try to remain calm

Woke to smell of smoke

Woke to smell of smoke
farmers burning off stubble
hopeful for rainfall

From granite they grow

From granite they grow
in a landscape drained by drought
tenacious flowers

She opens her arms

She opens her arms
the embrace barely reaches
it is just enough

From Snowy Mountains

From Snowy Mountains
the Murrumbidgee River
flows onto tables

I stare in the mirror

I stare in the mirror
my ancestors gazing back
they live on through me

Under morning glow

Under morning glow
magpies gently chortle song
brightening my day

I feel that I am

I feel that I am
in a deep dark well screaming
no one can hear me

Solo performance

Solo performance
a dance without a rhythm
each step leads to more

Diesel engines stir

Diesel engines stir
carriages seem to fidget
train horn calls goodbye

Temperature dips

Temperature dips
distant sounds hover like ghosts
one hour before dawn

Shared among many

Shared among many
I learn to love and be loved
subdivide my heart

When a drop of rain

When a drop of rain
resounds in a still garden
the plants seem to smile

My heart is learning

My heart is learning
this blossom is opening
lit by the divine

In the dark rough sea

In the dark rough sea
shipwrecks surround mysteries
she hides many things

Sharing this journey

Sharing this journey
bumps on the road we travel
not equally felt

Machinery fails

Machinery fails
as the gallahs fly circles
a new siren squeals

I open my heart

I open my heart
she looks inside and says
"I like the decor"

To all the lovers

To all the lovers
loving in ways not labelled
keep loving your loves

Both shallow and deep

Both shallow and deep
our rivers of consciousness
nourish thoughts and lives

Hold on while I check

Hold on while I check
my wardrobe of excuses
for reasons why not

Her eyes are like moths

Her eyes are like moths
flitting swiftly between lights
as blinks grow longer

Looks like shoplifting

Looks like shoplifting
distorting my underpants
morning erection

Unfamilar ache

Unfamilar ache
hearing my daughter singing
pangs from pop warbles

The child within me

The child within me
slowly learning the lessons
from my parent role

Two hearts beat apart

Two hearts beat apart
keeping pace by holding space
love and compromise

Ringbarked but not dead

Ringbarked but not dead
growing across centuries
resilient gums

A quiet moment

A quiet moment
found while washing the dishes
my meditation

In pornography

In pornography
utopia of desire
reduced to base lust

On mid-morning breeze

On mid-morning breeze
a nasal whine of mowers
dust and petrol fumes

White branch over stream

White branch over stream
marked as a favourite seat
for various birds

Muddy riverbank

Muddy riverbank
surrenders to increased flows
exposing tree roots

Cockatoos exclaim

Cockatoos exclaim
echoing among red gums
morning has broken

Ripples reflecting

Ripples reflecting
streaming autumnal light
each moment passing

Sparrows are playing

Sparrows are playing
chirping and flapping their wings
rattling my gutters

Our hearts are entwined

Our hearts are entwined
each turn away tears at threads
reaffirms our bond

Quitting employment

Quitting employment
seems to become easier
with each passing job

Polyamory

Polyamoury
not the love we hoped to see
next polygamy 

After sleepless nights

After sleepless nights
the desire to remove weights
burning some bridges

Short concentration

Short concentration
my temper will flare today
without sleep last night

Walking around

Walking around
bumping my head on things
lost within self

My priorities

My priorities
torn between desires and needs
immediate wins

My niece is still young

My niece is still young
she laughs when I duck the swing
wide-eyed at lame jokes

Light cuts through the blinds

Light cuts through the blinds
scratches lines into my eyes
violates my sleep

Politician says

Politician says
"People I've spoken to say..."
Let's call this hearsay

5AM flurry

5AM flurry
headlights blur along the roads
shift workers start day

Galahs are squawking

Galahs are squawking
as wind unsettles their roosts
under purple clouds

Early morning walks

Early morning walks
enjoying the humid breeze
before routines start

I am gratitude

I am gratitude
being reminded of joy
indebted to you

Thinking shades of love

Thinking shades of love
if you keep opening hearts
love creates more love

Useless thoughts and prayers

Useless thoughts and prayers
superficial sympathy
disguise inaction

After 16 years

After 16 years
I still want to fornicate
then lose at Scrabble

You're like chicken shit

You're like chicken shit
bordering on offensive
the ways you've grown me

Otherwise pale gums

Otherwise pale gums
now sunset reflects off limbs
radiating flames

I see them around

I see them around
tired and weary expressions
disillusioned men

My meaning-filled life

My meaning-filled life
lacks meaningful existence
now what can this mean?

Evaporating

Evaporating
as soon as the tap turns on
the smell of chlorine

Chocolate-filled mouth

Chocolate-filled mouth
attempted to say thank you
"Kangaroo?" she asked

Wanting energy

Wanting energy
struggling with every day
unmotivated

Before the sunrise

Before the sunrise
the warm breeze carries movement
cicadas singing

On the road ahead

On the road ahead
a stick figure shakes a leg
as bitumen burns

Our astrology

Our astrology
abstract language for our lives
the star in star sign

As you read this poem

As you read this poem
an existential moment
becomes for others

In the passing air

In the passing air
the echoes of all music
reduced to white noise

Kitten lies on road

Kitten lies on road
warm with Sunday morning light
run over last night

Take me to the pool

Take me to the pool
sink me in the cool waters
to watch light ripple