CONNIE BARBER

After Rain

Night's sudden flush of rain drove the creek
lifted rubbish and debris, carried, dropped, where currents
sluiced into old pools. At heaped snags the flow shifted
to the other bank. Debris, broken limbs and plastic bags
tangle as an invasive dam. The creek confronts the mess,
turns from its centre. Its companion ducks
have left even the quiet reach above the rapids.

River reds, full and fattened, hold the sky,
elms and willow, yellow with decline,
thinly reach for some conversation
with high billowing, breaking, sun-struck cloud.
Wattles shine and drip.
Sapling gums hold up pools of clear blue
for the circling peregrine.