[180 words]
a
new
day
dawns
wolves are howling far
across the moon a
spun night dark
the mighty rapids rise wind beats
against the trees roll birds of thunder and
in the earth the old man dreams
in a log frame alone the beasts and
grown again his grey beard long the snakes
a holy fool calls out his tongue will swell
and within the old man to fill his cell
is the earth and sky the wolf become a
and every song spreading
thing breaks vine
drum round a magic fire out on the shining plain
spirits dance a page a house in flame
upon the air sing lies open our house
rivers and streams our house is
the bones will on fire fiery leaves
and the flesh the light fall
of the land never suspended
alpha and omega come in flight
the end is the beginning upon each leaf
the world is a whisper a name inscribed
the singer the song
as above
so below
smoke trails twist in wisps into sky
a shaman song to heal the world
Lukas Jackson is an Australian writer, living on Tharawal Country in south-western Sydney. His stories and poems have appeared in journals and anthologies in Australia and overseas. His novel “99 Names” was shortlisted for the 2023 Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript.
