Old Bob nods, still here mate, long guard duty
You can almost see his arm reach, thumb nudge the air
Listen, bones below, fish carcass, them she-oak, birds on top
Hear this white heron sploosh up from down deep
See him flap from this magic corner
See, twenty-eight black swans sail way out, four coming in, thirteen waiting
Look here, sugar ants in this track
I see, Bob, I see, you say
Spirit of another old friend streaks up, tight, silent
Fox-like in the redolent scrub
This one you knew in the flesh, but not as well as you should have
Don’t settle now, keep moving now, look ahead now, don’t settle, straight ahead
He says soft as rain hitting your feet
A diving kookaburra flashes bright belly-feathers
Glides spear-straight out in front
You bristle, inhale, follow