by Kate Olivieri

My neighbour told me
Someone cried to their case manager
My kids’ placentas are buried in the yard
Will you compensate me for that

my heart dropped
so is my son’s
the government is buying our house in the flood zone too

and I can’t think about it ever without crying
but it’s a helpful thought

that

my neighbour’s kids’ placentas
are just across the street
planted under their special trees
Guava for Gloria
Pomegranate for Saktika
Rosewood for Albert

they will keep each other company
our kids’ placentas
left on the floodplain

• Note: The poet has lost her home twice to floods
  in Lismore, NSW, in 2017 and 2022.