Chilly afternoon,

water warmer than air.

How lucky she is to swim in the ocean today.

Crimson Rosella. Flash of red.

A pair of Sooty Oystercatchers picking around.

At night a call - hoo hoo - hoo hoo - hoo woo. A distant reply.

Boots laced in the early light. Pack shouldered.

Up and over, striding along a muddy trail,

meandering through the light catchers and their armoured props.

Forest floor workers tightly anchored to the decaying,

the gargantuan hover above.

Emerge and cast away.

A river crossing. Boots unlaced.

Tortured seas today.

In the seaweed a Pacific Gull thrashes a fish.

Bush land pathways,

Fern stairways,

Insect kingdoms,

Fanned wiry tendrils,

Leaning paper skins.

Water.

Diluted turquoise,

a gentle colour.

A treacherous sea.

Her birthday.

She is the ocean, the ocean is her,

once, twice, three times, a fourth.

Schools of transparent,

soles tread the colour of snow

A tumble of rocks reflect,

home alongside the creek

Climbing to a lookout,

keeping watch for the tail fins.

Colour changes for goodbyes.

A flourish.

Elated.

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Wilsons Prom - February 2021