after Gallipoli
voice
of the soldier settler
the hey dad years
are all away
and now the work's
among trees of my
truth
each
animal telling
you could be with
them some days
down the back I
mean, where it's scraggly
all up with the sky,
you could imagine
we were the first...
that no one had ever lost this land
you'd think it had
drifted to us in a dream
as
in when we weren't looking
God,
why are we here in paradise?
why
must we leave so soon?
nowhere to go but
that single uncertainty
one proof lacking
against all that is known
in the orchard, at
the place of the fountain
sweet waters run
with the stairs
a trench for blood
and the ghosts will come
all these years from
Ilium
the war still in
your head
look up through
branches so you see
we followed orders
brave death we are
isn't this any-sky
our flag?
all unfamiliar stars
because our skins
are like a song
and that was just
the trouble
how we were faithful
to a fault
and couldn't see the
you for me
but now – as one
ghost to another
let us sit to tea
together
I haven't got your
language
I read your face as
you read mine
take my hand, take
your end
of the conversation
we won't have need
of words
Lovely poem, Kit.
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