Cradled

Cradled
by what’s on offer now
by what’s on offer here

Morning’s cheeks are soft, washed
blueness radiates night’s sweet dreams
reflections swim in shallow puddles

The air, a thin curtain, a sharpness
a freshness; to be drunk, to be relished

Pollution is bathed, diluted for a time
even cars seem accepting, kind of quiet
in well-washed gleaming, disappearing into
someplace, away from here... away

Here gum trees’ shadows crawl the
cultivated lawns, hiding dogs, revealing
owners, runners and white cockatoos
digging black soil, unafraid, unbothered

A baby, close to father’s checkered shirt
harnessed in warmth and heartbeat
spread like a head-up-bat, facing
away from trees, from water and sky
away from you and me

A bearded man, feet bare, bag in hand
awaits his dog to end a sniffing-catch-up dance

I hear a rainbow lorikeet’s screech
swooping, soaring high, chased by minor birds
the darting colour faster than grey-black lines

And carrying this morning home with me
the freshness, water, shrieks, beauty
I hold dear reflections of reflections
moments within moments

Cradled
by what’s on offer now
by what’s on offer here.

Sara Abend-Sims is a UniSA graduate in teaching (visual art) and counselling. She exhibited her artwork for a number of years, before concentrating on poetry and fiction writing. She is the recipient of two Community Literary Award first prizes, in 2009 and 2015. Her work has appeared previously in Poet’s Corner, in Friendly Street and other anthologies, online at Adelaide’s Campbelltown Council website, and in the e-journals “Australia Times”, “Leaves of Ink”, “Art Ascent” and “Haibun Today”.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected].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.