where what we call our block
abuts the land along the river
I am weeding out invasive grasses
leaving wallaby grass fine-waving
saltbush ruby-berried speargrass
spice-smelling cassinia
kneeling
recent-rain soft soil
I’m dragging weeds out roots and
all my fingers driving into dirt
nails fill with grit as
earth is giving
I am giving time to
learning
earth-scent ant-scent deeper
leaning in to see the slater
earthworm caterpillar
coloured as an artless
celebration
as hands roughen
clay and stone
I’m leaning in
to hope
to hear
earth healing
as my fingers blister
bits of bark down falling
crested shrike-tit feeding
grey shrike-thrushes shy
come closer closer
pausing
listening
earth is speaking
earth is asking something of us
I am hearing in the noiselessness
the lack of out-abouting boating
lack of roadnoise comings goings
clustering gatherings
all things slowing
still
down on my knees
I’m feeling fibrous root
moist mallow-tangle
touching seeing earthstar fungi
wing of phasma frogmouth feather
ground
connecting