By Jo Curtain.
sitting in a park,
the afternoon dissolves in somnolence
watery sunlight over still open water
bordered by long, pointy,
pith-less reeds.
their heavy feet rooted in a Giacometti swamp.
listen. listen.
we all compete with the wind,
you say, ‘the chorus frogs!’
and sing ‘I’ll croak, I’ll croak, croak, croak, croak.’
I say, ‘it is not but one frog nor one croak.’
but who is who? who is speaking? do we make it up?
no! listen. listen.
we sit. we try and try, and then we hear
the low resonant Bonk!
like an atomic bounce of the water
and then. harmonious warbling
slips off mosquito loving tongues
Craa-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-awk fills the air.
I see you. fraught faced.
you are perplexed by the
high pitched squeaks
rattling through the reeds
Crick!
Crick!
Crick!
crinia signifera,
most common froglet – it’s cricket-like chirping,
nothing like a croak!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jo Curtain is currently studying Creative Writing at Deakin University. She is an emerging writer of short stories and poetry. She has a background in family violence advocacy and case management. She lives with her family in Torquay, Victoria.
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