Beyond

seduced
by kite hawk
that spirals
on hot thermal winds
loneliness
like that
of the spirit of sky
inspires a hopeless
heart-broken
longing

 
wind at dusk
resents the song
of insects
and falling leaves
remind me
of the great distance
between
us

 
I want to fill my hands
with moonlight
and bring it back
to you

 
here is seclusion
and stillness
with nothing
to break the spell

 
let me soar
a white cockatoo
on strong wings
to fill a cup
from the dark heavens
and banish
this sorrow

 
awake to pillow and bed
gone are the clouds
that stifle me

 
purify myself
with cold bore-water
shower
walk out to
eastern side
of the lodge
to read
with tranquil mind
leave book closed
content
to daydream

 
three children
in uniform
run down road
in red storm of dust
only their laughter
remains

 
take a right
and walk
to vacant lot
sit beneath
gidyea tree
read poetry
to birds

 
moment of pure delight
kingfisher holds my gaze
with dazzling black-eye
and sees
straight through me

 
still a stranger
to myself
even now
in the middle
of life

 
tourists
content to discover
the next tree
the next river
the next mountain
this one
that one
one after
the other
so that everything
becomes
the same

 
forgotten joy
returns
as full moon
appears
in steel blue sky
and lonely
crow’s voice
swallows
last light
of day

 
local pulls over
offers me a ride
I smile
tell them
I’m trying to walk the city
out of my mind

 
kick at stone
embedded
in red bone earth
send dust
and pebbles
skittering
in wild patterns
that for a moment
rearrange the history
of this land

 
this breath
taken in
and exhaled
dim halo
of stars
about it

 
moonlight slants in
at the foot
of my bed
on either side
an empty mattress
this hermit’s heart
is restless
no more