Though the clouds fled from your armpits

in spectacular foggy spirals, he gave me red dust
compacted and thrust above the curved earth. Below

I saw the Early Ones warm their hands over fire
offering up babies wrapped in skin and blood;

I saw dingos and camels and dust. When I returned
you showed me the folds of your cloak, olives

gingers and greys slain with purple gashes. I fell among
the prickly matagouri that smelt of pink and tea

and woke in communion with a white gentian.
I stayed with you and named your parts: turpentine,

tussock, scree, kea, karearea, odonata zealandica,
who, in-spite-of my efforts, flit irretrievable  incandescent

over the braids of the Deception.