Jane Downing
The path is lined with fairy wren the jewel of their blue better than gold winding between lagoon & wetland & river known here as the Milawa tiny kingfisher of a more mythical blue observe from the knotty branch above while willy wag tails scythe the grass for bugs In the still lagoon every fallen branch is encrusted with turtles nose to tail ibis nests are tufted with birds islanders marooned by water-level rise as a trio of parrots wrestle in the sky wings clickety clack swoop clickety clack dive The Yindyamarra trail is about respect Be gentle, polite, honour and do slowly the black swan glides by five cygnets in a train behind
Jane Downing’s poetry has appeared in journals around Australia including Meanjin, Cordite, Rabbit, Canberra Times, Bluepepper, Not Very Quiet, Social Alternatives, Best Australian Poems (2004 & 2015) and previously in Burrow. Her collection, ‘When Figs Fly’ (Close-Up Books) was published in 2019. She can be found at janedowning.wordpress.com
Old Water Rat Publishing 