#34 Kevin Brophy 'Russian Jack's Bar, Halls Creek'

All day we drive long straight lines
from A to B
and then from another A to another B again.
A desert wind rams the car
in the side, nothing
but noise.
Cattle and termites own the land,
frogs perch in Boab trees,
wedge-tails wait for roadkill
and the radiator boils like a billy.

We pass a hand painted sign to Lamboo
Station on the left and later
outside Russian Jack's Bar
Vince tells us how the horses shy
during muster when the helicopters
come too low, all noise and wind,
and the young fellas fall from their steeds.

Vince remembers this place
being built, Teresa remembers
it was once run by an Aboriginal family.
We talk about going places,
children gone or lost,
Vince looks up and says the rain did not come
this way after all.
The air is still and close and warm tonight.