In defence of silence

Audio version

Go to the water. Sit

At the feet of the Casuarinas

Cushion of Dahlwah’s shed silver hairs

Where lost children flee

Listen for the stories the women told

Wait

Here on the mossy toes

Of the sandstone tower

For the rock warbler to whistle

In between insects

From its sideways perch

Walk with me

Stalk the blue marron before

It shoots into the sandy gloom

Tea- coloured mirrors of yesterday’s rain

Stay

In this breathing, declaring forest

Unfurling itself from forgotten dust

This does not need to be solitary

But how else can I hear them speak?

Listen with me

Let words coalesce in the spaces we leave for them

Let love do the rest.

Go to the water. Sit.

Wait. Listen.

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