My Close Friend. Poem by Geoffrey Fafard

You of the winter grass
Along ancient river flowing
You waited there so very quietly for me
To come to you and sit with you
Bleached in the sun and whitened
By the ruffling wind in the long grass
You talked back to me serenely, whisperingly
You have kept me safe all these years
Safe in all the rivers, safe in all my wanders
Safe within myself.
I brought you from that hard place
To be my minder, my spirit brother
My bad world repellant, the back guard I trust.
-
Lost in the glow of evening we talk and you laugh
Reminding me of my rivers, ghost gums, giant Barramundi
And your gracious and remaining family
Swimming the dappled waters and billabongs
Of this beautiful lost northern
Australia.