Lightning: that crooked path to paradise;
Death’s fingers fidgeting 
In the shadows on the river.

                        *

This dark summer, lit by lightning;
Moth larvæ 
Raining from the ceiling.

                        *

Thunder heavy in the sky
And in the dark grass.
Too humid to strike a match.

                        *

Ice cubes made of orange juice
There in the fridge;
I pick the one with a gnat in it.

                        *

The river wiggles through a city
That’s glazed with sweat;
Clouds watch over us, waiting to strike. 

                        *

All day an empty blue that burns into the soul;
Then lacewings swirling in yellow lamplight
By an open window. 

                        *

Dark One, you wore blue and white
All the livelong day,
But then you left, my love.

                        *

Barefoot, running fingers
Slowly over a brown thigh…
(That snake-eyed skink cannot look away.)

                        *

I wanted to give
Every flower your name;
But they already had it.

                        *

The swaying flame of summer;
Wet heat crouching
In small dark rooms…

                        *

Rain drumming on the macaranga leaves;
The river’s liquid chord
And fast blood pulsing through my flesh.

                        *

I slip inside the tulle
And leave the ceiling fan on low
And my last breath already fills the tent. 

                        *

Ferry me home, Dark One,
But on my river, on a hot, starry night,
My lazy river, rich with rot. 

                        *

Evening: the sun whispers 
Last endearments
To the lillypilly by the creek.