The Climb
for Geoff Bell
Heaving breath slows
on Paton’s Hill
in full view of the climb’s reward.
The Great Divide is a dragon’s tail
curled beside the Breadalbane Plain.
The beast’s breath turns distant glinting blades.
Dogs rustle dry grass
a fly hums at ear level
birds cry
engines thrum remotely
from the highway.
Solitude
until a plane swoops low
and loud
with dipped wing salute.
The pilot chose flight post-cancer.
Last week
friends found another foil-wrapped egg
in their garden
long after his inaugural Easter airdrop.
A Puckish sense of play makes each day count.
Bovine Grace
Cattle are hospitable creatures
with one or two endearing features.
They act as host with bovine grace
to brazen birds which bag a place
at intervals along their spine
from head to tail in a single line.
While cows munch grass and chew their cud
birds dice lice that suck their blood.
A cow’s philosophy includes the clause:
You itch my back and I’ll hitch yours.