The Paddler

for Andrew Taylor

memories mark time
peppered with days and nights
loves, houses and children
a train ticket, a photo in Europe

peppered with days and nights
dawn's long shadow -
a train ticket, a photo in Europe
tail feathers of a kite

dawn's long shadow
ripples over rocks -
tail feathers of a kite,
a mountain stream

ripples over rocks,
yesterday's rain runs
a mountain stream
to the river, to the coast;

yesterday's rain runs
down leaves, off dry sands
to the river, to the coast.
rafts of sunlight flash

down leaves, off dry sands
to a paddler in midstream.
rafts of sunlight flash,
drop from the blade

of a paddler in midstream -
echoes of great rivers
drop from the blade,
generation upon generation

echoes of great rivers,
loves, houses and children,
generation upon generation,
memories mark time.




Published in JAS (Journal of Australian Studies) 81, 2004
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