by MARIA BONAR
September transforms the landscape from red
earth, to carpets of daisy-like everlastings with
sprinklings of spider orchids, purple fringed lilies
star flowers, kangaroo paws, in pops of colour
like graduates at a high school ball
plain banksia trees, eucalypts, grevilleas
glam up their grey-green foliage in vibrant
crimson, white, yellow or pink blossom
on the road ahead, strange shapes move
on the horizon, like a shimmering mirage
nearer, the images focus into two adult eagles
and three young, ripping into a dead sheep
the eye-watering stink of sun-baked
carrion drifts in my window.
Despite my car horn disturbing the peace
the eagles are unwilling to move
the parent bird fixes his eye on me
I deviate off the bitumen to pass them
swirling up a billow of red dust. Near
Mullewa, I see some rare wreath flowers
a westerly breeze seasoned with eucalyptu
cools the sweat on my forehead as
I kneel on the warm earth to admire a
magenta pink wreath, the size of a dinner plate
a squawking gang of black cockatoos wheel
past. They settle on a nearby gum tree
flash scarlet tail feathers like burlesque dancers.
An eagle flying overhead casts a shadow over me.
– Midwest Western Australia