black cockatoos

each certain kind of weather

or of light has its own creatures

somewhere else they wait

as though they but inhabited heat or cold

twilight or dawn

and you know other state

then if that time they come

timid or bold

so when the long drought wins

sandpaper harsh

we're still

and the air changed

and the clouds came

and other birds were quiet in prayer or fear

these knew their hour

before the first fire flash lit up

or first thunder spoke its name

in heavy flood they came

'til i could hear the wild black cockatoos

tossed on the crest of their high trees

crying the worlds unrest

crying the worlds unrest