Anthracite

Even though the windows are closed tightly I can hear the birds as I drive down the hill

The 3.6 litre engine winds up as I hit the flat and the bird song fades in the dark mirror

I flick a small button on the steering wheel and noise springs from some unknown place

A melody dressed up as someone’s pain floats from the radio but is rather numb

Then the news comes on with a noise like a thousand seagulls on a paddocks fresh till

‘Welcome the latest breaking news for the South East’ she says with a tremor of terror

Coaches complaining about refs and a shark from NSW called fluffy with a cute face

“What the hell is NSW doing in the SE news?” to my horror I realise we are that dumb.

There are animals being skinned alive, majestic beasts being hunted for sport and the kill

Humanity is suffering for a dollar and animals become tokens to prove they are inferior

Bankers cry at gains to small instead of a family living in a car not fit for the human race

730,000 children in poverty in Australia as the Politician thinks about his muesli – peach or plum?

A lawyer squawks he’ll get your Super for a fee, when you’ve fought to long and had your fill

The insurance man in white points to tiny words as he steps back from your spilt entrails in horror

Charlatans walk freely amongst us, protected as they gouge us, taking more and more space

But social cannibalism is not news. Overpaid coaches, millionaire players. That is our sum.

Roll your penitent thoughts away, you might find they are not needed here

Lean forward into the wind and push, push aside things not yours to own

Realise resistance to your movement is the moult of some horrible beast.

It is not light in your peripheral; maybe its hope and maybe its fear

The hiss you hear tries to seduce you, attempting to make you its clone

All this is committed to memory, as on its carcass you joyfully feast