Sunlight so dim the sky remains dark
tanks slowly battling the icy slush
stall in the mire
the men tumbling out of the turrets
and wandering through the fields
that pass into nothing
in the evening vineyard
the soldier rooted to the earth
like a cross
that others hung from
with swaying bodies dancing in the air
of wind and space
silently still like a gun
that’s been planted upright and strong
throwing a wedge of shadow
on bodies like pick-up sticks
an eye fell and rolled from its socket
lies caught by a rock
its tiny dry membrane
shrivelled to thread
gapes at the soldier
who wanting to dance
can only manage faltering steps.
Chiesa Irwin
Atherton, Qld
