tea is a bush art

stoke the fire

whisper to coals

with a charred billy can

boil rainwater on smoky white box

don’t even consider a bag

leaves in the teapot

steep black oolong

wait and wait and wait

add milk or powdered sunshine

sugar is compulsory

stir rigorously
pain is a bush lesson

dad was a shearer

I followed him to work for day care

smoko is sacred tea time

stop jumping near the fire

one two three

somehow I’m in the billy can

fuck someone get some water

shearers jumping over stock fences

Nata won the Olympic hurdles

that day a gallon of water

held above his head

poured over my shedding ankle 
bush lessons have dangerous curves

no phones no ambulance nowhere

shearers running long and fast

more fences and Uncle Jimmy says

Dolly you gotta drive

hold this hanky on your ankle

and stop crying it won’t stop

pain and pain and pain better

call it a lesson to claim what I learned

even small buildings can be hospitals

everyday new bandages and green blisters

I stole that other kids lollies

the nurse wasn’t watching
bush curves have soft edges

a billy can sits on the side

of coals and fate and sings

dad isn’t a shearer no more

I ate fried sheep brains

and we moved in to town

dad is in recovery from everything

billy lessons burn remission

ankles deep and he sheds his skin too

silver bandages at a new hospital

tea is a dangerous love

love is a soft edge