Sky Driving

by Judith Steele

Early South Australian summer
before the fires.
Driving north
from Glenelg beach to country town
of Gawler, into sky intensely blue,
lapis lazuli, a bowl just made
in ancient Mesopotamia.

Late afternoon returning south
sky gathers smoky clouds,
herds them onto the horizon,
allows pale blue to float above.

Detour west to Semaphore beach
in early evening. Yellow streaks of sunsetting
recline on darkening sea.

Stopped at traffic lights, look east
to curves of Adelaide Hills
glowing purple. Above them,
reflecting their lines and tints,
long waves of violet clouds.

Back in my Tod St flat
with its view of 26 more.

Bushland

by Judith Steele

Trunks of Eucalypts lean towards one another,
whisper with leathery leaves
Young Casuarinas draw black needles
on pale blue sky.
Sturt Peas flame in the dust
Pig Cactus creeps in hollows
Dam water is brown, ducks are brown
between blue-green bushes
and blue-green scent of bushland.