under this moon, a taxi
cools its engine and coughs
our neighbour out onto the hard
ground, already split
with thistle and dandelion
you blink up at me, as I stroke
the slightly furry tip
of your nose, your tight shell of ear
red skinned and sweating
our neighbour strips off
his shirt at the front door
you and I, already naked
our veins forecast a heatwave
a night gone to seed
An interesting snapshot of the evening…wonder if your neighbour was aware he was under observation.
oh this second stanza is so tender…what a precious moment..
Yes, love the 2nd stanza but also the image of your neighbour being spat out of the cab is priceless – hahaha – another hot night. The months after Michael was born were so hot – hard to get comfortable.
Your First Summer, Thomas
Sleepless nights under skies cosmic
bright and coldly distant.
A droning drill of desperate mosquitoes
leave secrets in the shadows of the night.
From the north a fiery beast drops
and drags across the salt of dead seas
furrows ochre and red earth
trailing dusty sunset swirling air.
Ants and Borers in the greyness
of forgotten limbs of ghost gum
wait silent as he gathers pace across
the cracked, crazed mud-holed land.
on to the shimmer of summer bitumen
wavering mirages in the middle distance.
Windmills along the crests of hills
spin on regardless drawing strength
from the clash of the wind inferno
with the cool crosswinds from gullies
and the still remaining billabongs.
© M.L.Emmett