Harsh winters breeze, snow covered mountains
piercing blue skies
framed by all kinds of seasons, a colourful feast of everchanging sunsets
hues of greys and mauve silhouette Brindabella mountains
blades of grass push through hardened ground, the first signs of spring
birds whisper sweet lullabies
bunnies emerge like secrets from hidden burrows
life, blossoming.
Darkness overshadows my sunny disposition
family, brothers’, sisters taken
ripped from within my limbs reach
orange triangles, wooden boundary pegs appear
bricks, mortar, roads
cars, buses, push bikes
progress, growth
Country no longer singing
breathing.
Flames came ashes fell
fear followed
a wave of new sickness, Covid
panic fear fuelled rage
death, stillness.
Country singing, blossoming life, hope
new beginnings
connection, compassion
dreams of becoming
a fence post, watching a family grow old
a bat smacked repeatedly against a cricket ball
a yellow box filled with work tools chucked on the back of a rusty Ute
or a love letter filled with words of lust and longing
but instead, here I stand firmly grounded watching and listening
keeping your secrets safely protected
deep inside the yellow box.
© Marissa McDowell, 2026
