Thistles at sunset

        Thistles at sunset.

        Big boll heads of straw

        and spur

        strong sway

        above old red gum posts.

        Raise the bar

        of the paddock

        to new heights.

        Ripe bull blossoms

        a prickle for the wind

        and skin that crawls

        with sharp and sting.

        Now bursting

        with the soft

        white feather

        of seed

        into a red raucous explosion

        of light

                    and cockatoos.

These poems are from my new collection IN THE APRICOT DARKNESS (view the cover and contents below in my recent posts). They are now being published individually, daily under 'recent posts' on my blog and will be available shortly as an eBook that can be read online or downloaded for free.