THE JOURNEYS OF CAPTAIN COOK

They began
simply
as
the plain science
of things that interest men

but what was familiar then
soon
gave way
to the unexpected

& a struggle
to understand

rules that didn't apply
when the compass
shifted

& the wrong decisions
made

two worlds quickly
broke apart

the flags faltered

& the colours ran
deep into the sand.

PROLOGUE - RICHARD PIERCE

On the hill
the man in leather
is holding
the gallows
of his gloved arm
to the sky;

in the darkness
above the moon
the falcon
is unfurling;

the man is seized in the dream -
his eyes riveted
to the crossbar
and bolted home -
he is unshakeable;

look at his eyes
he is building a wall

across them.

SPRUCE UP FOR ANZAC DAY

there's a lot of digging
going on near the guns -
flowers getting planted
& the soft sound of water
running over stones
& seeping into the ground;

a shovel
breaking up the dirt
& turning it over
a door closing

the wardrobe door opening,
a uniform brushed down,
a medal ribbon repaired,
the smell of leather

& the long silence of polishing
a prayer
& a song

a door closing.

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