Hey Lilly-Pilly, Local Aussie Poem by Raj Arumugam

hey lilly-pilly, local Aussie
leafy tree and luscious and hardy
(standing in a row in my garden
with your ancient compatriots
each radiant and tall on my retaining-wall)
still proud with a thick green smile
and happy in sun-bright, rain-free summer heat and drought;
but for me
migrant, alien, but about a decade breathing here
all I can do is to wilt, wilt and wilt
and drag myself to the least-hot corner I can find in this home
and lie down like a creepy-crawly,
so depleted, so depleted, in this Queensland weather,
in these dry months, beautiful one day, and perfect the next…