Trees of Northbourne
the road into Canberra
is lined with
accidental trees
a temporary relief growing
river gums, not for streets
or offices or flats, cussedly
took root and towered
we walk their dusky
length today
bitumen, weeds and
potholes
the shapes of the
trees familiar
long hanging
leaves and bark
cluster buds on blossom
brink
remember tall
night shadows,
drunks faltering at our car
withered crash
bouquets
murder memorials,
talk of
election night women
flashing buses, sturdy bras
and modest knickers,
(must have won the bet
on Kevin 07)
here protests gathered in the shade
we honked at climate change
driving past
the politician
dummies on stilts
the sausage sizzles
today we touch the
trees goodbye
count the notices on their trunks
traffic racket stops with the lights
a line of bikes
crosses
we don’t know what
to feel for progress
for the coming tram
feel the dark bark
the hanging ribbons
of manna gum
Love the dark bark and the hanging ribbons...will be sad to see them go 😯
ReplyDeleteLove the dark bark and the hanging ribbons...will be sad to see them go 😯
ReplyDeleteI know, I just had to say goodbye to them physically, actually do it, as I know I will go down there one day soon and the saws will be out and the trees gone. Really interesting just walking down the middle, the traffic sound swelling and then so quiet, it is actually pretty unpleasant and dingy, and Northbourne does look wreck and the pictures so alluring what it will be like, but I mourn the trees. There will be more, other trees, but I just feel sad about the living ones, part of our landscape, each a lovely creature. Like they are friends :(
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