GLOBAL WARMING

From the elevated verandah

There was a view

Of the large back yard –

A well-grassed stretch

That did not quite go on forever.

A mass of pale purple pigface flowers

Clumped beside the fibro outside toilet.

A dull perfume rose

From the row

Of dwarf oleanders

That divided the yard

Into two unequal portions.

A slightly acrid smell

From the poison olive leaves

Camouflaged

Occasional unpleasant odours

From the adjacent septic tank.

The backdrop tang

Of the universal eucalypts

Almost failed to register.

At times the yard was full

Of the noise of birds –

Black and white magpies

With their symphonies,

Dirty brown sparrows

With their monotonous chirps,

And, spasmodically,

Regal kookaburras

Looking for something

To laugh about

While the turquoise tips

Of their tucked-in wings

Flashed in the brilliant light.

This afternoon it was quiet –

So peaceful

That an energetic corgi

Settled down for nap,

His front legs

With their pure white feet

Cradling his fox-like face.

Out on the horizon,

Above the cerulean blurs

Of the Blue Mountains,

The sun seemed to strobe listlessly

As it slipped lower in the western sky,

Reddening the mean remnants

Of scattered cumulus clouds.

It was a good time to dream

For people who were so inclined.

But better just to gaze,

Lazily,

At the fiery performance in the sky

Until the powder blue canopy

Turned indigo

And the evening star

Pricked its way

Into the purple gloom.

Acknowledgement: the painting is by Joe Cartwright
(see www.paintingwithcolors.com)