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– A Sunburnt Country – a haiku sequence |
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record drought the home paddock tightens around the house drying dam moonlight trapped in hoof prints an emu mob sweeps across the farm – dust plumes sheep bones along the creek bed swirls of red heat haze the windmill tower trembles fence-rider's hut people holding hands in a paper frieze outback night a distant roadtrain deepens the dark dust storm the edge of its shadow reaches the fence |
outback mirage – a line of ghost gums quivering cloudless dawn walking down the steps he tightens his belt sheep farmers the metronomic flick of right hands the long paddock – a kelpie drinks from the drover's hat sweat stains on his blue singlet a cloudless sky forsaken farm incessant banging of the front door sunburnt country the crack of a rifle draws the crows trickle of dust from a farmer's fist – the banker's shoes |
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