
As if it is left to the dark
rain-glossed trees burdened
with bright ripe citrus
and the long-fingered kikuyu which prowls
the weathered board house,
to do something
about the children.
As if it is left to the dark
rain-glossed trees burdened
with bright ripe citrus
and the long-fingered kikuyu which prowls
the weathered board house,
to do something
about the children.
These fine leaves fallen
from the cabbage trees
bunched into the rusted drum,
yellow-brown-grey and hopefully dry
engulf a weak confused curl
of barely escaping smoke
as leaf filaments glow and smoulder
from just one match.
The dull edge of a dark day
waits with me in cold vigil
awaiting a cremation
of events not grieved
but with time to ruminate out back
by that degrading iron drum
when with sudden flare
an epiphany of fire
bursts brightly through
the crackling discards
melting me into smile.
Getting a handle on this diabetes thing is no joke mate
it’s as slippery as a bloody eel, or a big pot of boiled brisket.
Sure, you can take away those cakes and biscuits and crap
I’d rather have a tin of peaches any day. What? But it’s fruit, man!
I don’t think eating too much of that rabbit food
can do a bloke much good either – don’t know how
the cattle eat all that green stuff and still put on the beef.
Must have a different kind of guts somehow.
Pretty astonishing to be told that spuds and bread get turned
into sugar inside the belly. Find that one hard to swallow, eh!
Give away the fizzies? Yeah, fair enough, they’re just lolly water
but the beer’s a different story, eh – like an uncle who
puts an arm across your shoulders when you’re taking things hard.
He asks no dumb questions. Yeah, the beer’s family, it’s gotta stay.
Hey, if these pills are any good, can’t they take care of it all
and let me get on with normal life? Why pay twice?
I really don’t know about this diabetes fella, who gate crashed
my life and looks like he’ll never leave. Does a bloke’s head in.