Uluru, central Australia, 1000 BC
You run fast, emu in the sky,
on your long black legs.
In every season
that I’ve carried my children
behind my husband
you have been above.
And the tree possum
over your head
has watched us
with his hand of shining eyes.
Stay over us, sky emu.
Watch us closely tonight, tree possum.
I am afraid of this place
where the earth rose up
in gleaming blood.
Published in Trasna.
S.C. Flynn 