we drive home from Coranderrk in a white mini-bus.
          Clearwing swallowtail in the treadmarks of us.

          kangaroo on the asphalt road home.

          black-breasted buzzard above, inhaling fumes.

          stars hidden by our Cigarettes and smog.
                    tragedy smells a lot like this.

                    night deepens into regret.

                    liquor tastes like answers.

                    whispers sound like people passed.
i walk back to Coranderrk bare-foot and stark naked.
          stars twinkle ‘cause my lighter won’t hold its flame.

          buzzard sleeps, her lungs full of my coping.

          kangaroo changed position, spray-paint X blankets her.

          holey swallowtail wings can’t fly when i find her.
                    but i carry the butterfly with me.

                    not home, but here.

                    where i can recall who i am.

                    am, and still am, without us.