T'was The Night After

a million midges
in plague proportion
attack the lamps
on this filthy hot
new year night

ice maidens
waltz
to the blue danube
incongruous
on an infested
crawling tv screen

the radetsky march
in clipped compound
teutonic rhythm
booms on
to the delight
of smiling japanese
at the guilded palace

TURN IT OFF
commands
the cry
from a distant
bedroom


I go outside
look up at the
big yellow cheese
setting the paddock alight
strip off
hose myself down with
icy tank water
crisp dry
in a few minutes
the hot breeze filtering
through the pungent pepper trees
a portent of the
cruel summer to come

JANUARY

never a good month
a month of strategies
to survive
the heat
bush fires
breaking down
of appliances
dust
the  school holidays
the winter escapees
 (tourists)
the Chrismas ghosts

the month of
short tempers
break ups
sun burn
falling out
face the music

and

Australia Day