Early afternoon, 25th September.
Today I walked with you
through the streets of Melbourne
dream-soaked, soft-spoken, inattentive.
Caro walked on my left, while you,
my darling,
strolled invisibly visible on my right.
The Plane trees made whimsical attempts
at promenade shade with just a scatter
of new minted leaves.
Webbed platypi paws stroked
billabong skies
greening light sporadically.
I glimpsed you up there
Puckishly perched
amongst the sturdy, thigh-wide-sky branches.
Dried seed head clusters,
autumnal survivors
bobbed kernel-nodding agreement
yes, spring's the season for cavorting in trees.
Before birds brood, nesting-serious
and Swanston Street breeds blue obligatory
fairy light festooned aflourishings.
You made me giggle (you always do)
pulling a naughty face
as we climbed the steep knee-cracking narrow-staired entrance
to lunch at Gopel's
where lavender walls swirled with lotus motifs
and a nose-ringed, saried waif serving curry
was as dinky di as a Shirl or Kylie
but had evolved a Mumbai accent to support Kristna beliefs.
.
Today I walked through the streets of Melbourne
drizzle-dampened, body aching, whoozy
from lack of sleep.
I was so happy.