One drop of water

One drop of water
evaporated last year
still creates ripples

Light through my window

Light through my window
the moon visiting a man
king tide stirred inside

Moonrise is postponed

Moonrise is postponed
it's government policy
they'll decide what shines

When the heat passes

When the heat passes
a reminder to find calm
look up with wonder

As it is above

As it is above
changing shape and infinite
so it is below

Two birds in a tree

Two birds in a tree
one leans over the other
regurgitating

Dark clouds overhead

Dark clouds overhead
rain bounces furiously
revealing hailstones

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping
I could not help but admire
your tranquil beauty

Without this photo

Without this photo
could I be sure to have seen
the colours of dawn

Blank wall reveals growth

Blank wall reveals growth
floodlights are outpacing trees
the stars are outshined

What price do we pay

What price do we pay
for seeing buildings at night
without the starlight

Stirred early morning

Stirred early morning
unsettled by fleeting thoughts
around the edges

My grandfather said

My grandfather said:
"Three moves is good as a fire."
What can I carry?

Sharpening their beaks

Sharpening their beaks
sitting on an antenna
two crows wait for dawn

We've peeled back petals

We've peeled back petals
our pollination bore fruits
light falls between us

Distant television

Distant television
blinking from light years away
twinkling star tonight

Summer noon twilight

Summer noon twilight
parched landscape takes to the sky
blown furiously

Lizards disappear

Lizards disappear
tails sticking out from purslane
abandoning ants

Weeds are overgrown

Weeds are overgrown
at night the garden transforms
cool leaves brush my feet

Disquiet Junto

Disquiet Junto
a little bit descriptive
not too prescriptive

Temperatures ease

Temperatures ease
the sun starts rising later
summer is passing

Kookaburra laughs

Kookaburra laughs
in the middle of the night
rain is approaching

Enthralled each morning

Enthralled each morning
reflecting on adventures
I can’t wait to dream

Dawn interrupted

Dawn interrupted
casting stripes across the sky
apricot and blue

It gets easier

It gets easier
the painful reminders fade
memories brighten

The dog up the street

The dog up the street
barking happily tonight
as summer rain falls

My dreams are a balm

My dreams are a balm
soothing my anxieties
changing my outlook

Exfoliating

Exfoliating
callous experiences
remaining supple

Sunrise wind rises

Sunrise wind rises
pushing galahs to the west
from branch to tree tops

Serendipities

Serendipities
resonances in our lives
sensing a magic

Each passing moment

Each passing moment
dots connected in our lives
only in hindsight

Born in a heatwave

Born in a heatwave
that weather now seems normal
10 years old today

Industrious town

Industrious town
works three shifts a day all week
Leeton never sleeps

Polyrhythmic life

Air-conditioning
a frog outside my window
polyrhythmic life

Australia Day

Australia Day
our nation is divided
each year protests grow

The lesson I've learned

The lesson I've learned
one must know to wash the sheets
if one wants to rest

Lilac and mauve bark

Lilac and mauve bark
peels back from a sunset trunk
among drab green leaves

Water flows through air

Water flows through air
falling onto parched parkland
where grass is fading

Fortified turret

Fortified turret
flies a flag for passing bees
none else need apply

Focused on blossoms

Focused on blossoms
lone bees ignore each other
while the mint gains ground

That musical sound

That musical sound
two notes trill as they take flight
crested pigeons charm

She crashes through trees

She crashes through trees
scaring night into shadows
as birds fall silent

Cicadas singing

Cicadas singing
full moon glowing through the clouds
restless summer heat

Strangest noise just now

Strangest noise just now
squeaking like an unlubed wheel
ducks flying at night

Through the day and night

Through the day and night
through many quiet moments
Facebook calls to me

Taking to the sky

Taking to the sky
exploring another town
my little pee-wee

I am evolving

I am evolving
outgrowing my former self
ascending again

In my heart of hearts

In my heart of hearts
a deep ocean of longing
rising with the moon

Return to country

Return to country
a familiar hilltop
from previous dreams

The tap is dripping

The tap is dripping
into a watering can
shouting birds a drink

Early morning awe

Early morning awe
yellow light streaked across sky
fading among stars

Her face shows strain

Her face shows strain
I remind her of her strength
again and again

Listening to trees

Listening to trees
Christmas beetles eating leaves
on a still hot day

Their calm directions

Their calm directions
lead me to literacy
thanks librarians

Competing desires

Competing desires
contrasting expectations
reconciling dreams

The gaps between us

The gaps between us
shifting like the bricks at home
crumbling foundations

My disappointments

My disappointments
paper over cracks of light
as this new day sours

From another time

From another time
aspirations now dated
forgotten like dreams

Dog barking at me

Dog barking at me
secure within home yet scared
needs to get out more

A symbol of change

A symbol of change
my butterfly collection
transforming me too

In my solitude

In my solitude
comfortable with myself
without loneliness

Things stir in my home

Things stir in my home
each discrete act says little
together they haunt

Mosquito dives down

Mosquito dives down
heavy after drinking blood
now smeared on my palms

Each day peaks and falls

Each day peaks and falls
I get up and go around
orbiting the sun

Death lingers outside

Death lingers outside
every shadow hides a corpse
in the summer heat

Daydreaming in loo

Daydreaming in loo
looking far out the window
warm urine on foot

Scattering galahs

Scattering galahs
disappear into the sky
at one with pink clouds

A meaningless sign

A meaningless sign
until I stopped there today
catching a sunrise

His stubbornness shows

His stubbornness shows
extraordinary feats
determination

Day is warming fast

Day is warming fast
son is wearing a jumper
seems disconnected

Says a lot really

Says a lot really
the church opp shop half-price sale
highlight of my week

I knew him as 'Pling

I knew him as 'Pling
when he took my photograph
20 years ago

Irresponsible

Irresponsible
showing my children old tricks
inner child unleashed

Homesickness at home

Homesickness at home
a dull aching in my chest
the weight of waiting

The hum of morning

The hum of morning
brightens and rises in pitch
as much as birdsong

You're not listening

You're not listening
women are getting angry
men need a warning

Morning melodies

Morning melodies
a mimic among branches
ahead of the dawn

My chest feels empty

My chest feels empty
it's only been a few hours
they left this morning

I walked in on her

I walked in on her
preparing to step outside
putting on her face

Can't throw you a line

Can't throw you a line
wade into an argument
without sinking first

People arguing

People arguing
I left without wading in
could have thrown a line

Buzzing in my ears

Buzzing in my ears
legs pumping under table
coffee flows through me

100 years

100 years
The Sentimental Bloke
Happy birthday

Feel kinda dirty

Feel kinda dirty
clicking on your marketing links
knowing your success

What happens is life

“What happens is life”
read a comment on Facebook
“dig it or frig it”

How to solve problems

How to solve problems
put them aside for later
forget where they went

Staff left against tree

Staff left against tree
sigil spray-painted on trunk
magician was here

Pink crack in the sky

Pink crack in the sky
a sliver of setting sun
remains of the day

A poetic air

A poetic air
vibrates possibility
open to meaning

I hear her crying

I hear her crying
we are alone in darkness
I can do nothing

Three bike rides today

Three bike rides today
each isolated a child
we found it moving

Closer to knowing

Closer to knowing
the form that I fever for
fully holding love

This gap we must bridge

This gap we must bridge
requires words as well as ears
know people listen

I saw aliens

I saw aliens
two shapes dancing with the stars
birds reflecting lights

Feeling where this goes

Feeling where this goes
pushing thoughts into a shape
pondering these words

Waking up early

Waking up early
listening to the rain fall
within a warm bed

Her handwritten note

Her handwritten note
requests unspoken actions
on waking from dreams

romance is not dead
it's now more articulate
expressing desire

The wind is howling

The wind is howling
as our intimate drought breaks
welcoming the cool

Wherever I go

Wherever I go
my emotional baggage
arrives soon after

It doesn't seem far

It doesn't seem far
thinking back to last summer
where did the year go?