Poem: Primavera Australis

Primavera Australis

after Giovanni Pascoli, 1855–1912

One flower in October’s not enough.

One bottlebrush in bloom is just a start.

Acacia showers of gold might be a bluff

but not enough. Pyrochis in the dirt,

redbeak orchids piercing black

char from last year’s bushfire, not enough!

Grevillia, Olearia, Anigozanthos –

silky spider tree, bush daisy, kangaroo paw –

so lovely! But not enough. Let’s wait for more.

Galahs in preening pairs and fairy wrens,

lorikeets, magpies, robins, rosellas,

pardalotes, wagtails, bee-eaters, corellas…

when one is missing, it’s like none,

not quite enough to sing in spring.

It’s when the sky above is all abloom

with birds and every hill’s a nest

of flowers, that’s when I presume

spring has sprung.

Robert Dawson is an active member of Adelaide’s Friendly Street Poets, presenting both his poetry and discourses at venues such as the Ern Malley Literary Bar and Brookside Cellars Community Arts Centre. More about Robert’s poetry, and background, can be found at his previous Poet’s Corner appearances on June 6 and June 20. Friendly Street celebrates its 50th anniversary in November this year.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.