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

Playing hide and seek

Playing hide and seek
anger rises like a fear
can't stand losing you

Galah killed today

Galah killed today
surprised by car on corner
paused while taking off

Graciously declined

Graciously declined
"Maybe later, maybe not"
Gentle no unlocked

Mother Nature's dance

Mother Nature's dance
pitter-patters on my roof
as I wake to rain

Thumbs up love heart eyes

Thumbs up love heart eyes
she replied with emoji
after my dick pic

Son born in heatwave

Son born in heatwave
wears winter clothes in summer
doesn't seem to sweat

Son was born in drought

Son was born in drought
didn't see rain until four
still chases each storm

Long curved road corner

Long curved road corner
hugs irrigation channel
pivots around tree

After the sun rose

After the sun rose
a peachy hue coloured day
smoke-filtered landscape

Resting in pieces

Resting in pieces
I’m sleeping with the fissures
when you crack me up

"In our prime," she says

"In our prime," she says
"Indivisible?" I ask
This pleases my love

Last seen last Christmas

Last seen last Christmas
looking tired, resigned to die
your time has moved on

A flash of sunlight

A flash of sunlight
glimpsed as our car leaves our home
radiant beauty

Reflect what I see

Reflect what I see
and see myself looking back
superficially

Judging distances

Judging distances
one of the pleasures driving
my eye holds measures

Garden is crowded

Garden is crowded
weeds of anxiety sprout
where perspective bloomed

Quarter past seven

Quarter past seven
an airplane flies overhead
kettle comes to boil

No rest on weekends

No rest on weekends
motivation does not shrink
watchng wasps at work

Circumnavigate

Circumnavigate
the elephant in the room
staying in the dark

When feeling scattered

When feeling scattered
as concentration battered
listless feels write lists

Hellish winds forecast

Hellish winds forecast
dessicating from the north
ahead of cool change

Lead balloon just dropped

Lead balloon just dropped
no one heard it on Facebook
hidden in comments

Admiring flowers

Admiring flowers
learn they’re silverleaf nightshade
common noxious weed

While drawing myself

While drawing myself
I'm surprised to recognise
my life partner's face

Electric net shape

Electric net shape
dances on the diamond tiles
swimming past like eels

Canberra has grown

Canberra has grown
rashes of parking meters
acne of cities

compound interest
collects wherever cars rest
confounds motorists

Little dogs"woof woof"

Little dogs"woof woof"
parodying their owners
humans bark "shut up"

Kids each bought donuts

Kids each bought donuts
using money from Christmas
at Leeton Pool shop

Warm winds as sun fades

Warm winds as sun fades
looking for my pack of wolves
shoulders to brush with

Riding as dusk falls

Riding as dusk falls
nostalgia inducing
while looking ahead

Watching my mother

Watching my mother
show photos to her grandkids
on her computer

Quiet on the roads

Quiet on the roads
the two police cars spotted
seem half the traffic

Shape in air ahead

Shape in air ahead
can’t tell if a pelican
or a cropduster

Grey box gum tree

Grey box gum tree
against the water channel
squeezed by sunflowers

Like a pick pocket

Like a pick pocket
Robin Hood as pick pocket
known as put pocket

Lying in the bath

Lying in the bath
imagining constriction
relief in release