Emerald

Swamp Gum leaves sunlight thieves.
A shimmering emerald light I saw aloft
in afternoon’s glow a flickering on and off
with twisting turns it flashed colour at me
I transfixed watched closely to see
windy flutterings of swamp gum leaves
on one branch hung these sunlight thieves
eucalyptus greens greys and blues they waved
their pretty dance to me they gave

Gnarly Swamp Gum

The gnarly Swamp Gum
with green grey cloak
of rounded leaves
it’s coarse trunk
and smooth limbs
prefer the wet feet
of wetlands
and riparian zones