paddock

in the void between night and day
when a mud-wash of dark cloud
hangs volcanic
bruised in a mute sky

when fences reconsider
shift slightly their survey lines
adjust the angles of posts

slack wires fading in the gloom

and bursts of sparrows
head out
committed

the never fail reflects
bends meal-coloured stems
to the cracking clay

quivers imperceptibly
in a shift of air

and the weeping mitchell
master of grass surrender
relaxes

in silence
past the pivot point
the rectangular welt
self-regenerating
begins to expire