Progress

a rivulet as seen from a raised rock path, flanked by green ocean plants on esither side and four kayaks resting on the rocks

Pull up the kayak,
you’ve come far from comfort ground;
look back and reflect.

Kayaking

a kayak's nose heading towards mangroves in the still waters of a river

Treading on mangroves,
wading into rivulets,
high tide, water’s still.

Bearer

a gumtree bark, branches, leaves, and the blue skies above, as seen from below

Pillars of our earth
holding the skies up, earth down;
solid old timber.

Phoenix

a garden patch with about 15 strawberry bushes, three tomato plants, and a handful of tiny, barely visible spinach plants

From dirt they arise,
slicing years of hardened earth—
weeds in my garden.

Clean up

part of the Torrens river in Adelaide flanked by a neatly maintained lawn and bushes, often used as a — Part of the Torrens river in Adelaide

Trim nails and calf hairs,
nip those rouge weeds in the bud—
garden maintenance.