Angophora striptease
after Hollow Bearing I, Ochre Lawson
written by Cassy Cochrane

Here at the edge of
what’s bearable we

find our sound of sea
in leaves

Angophora striptease –

fricative racket of parrot,
riot of seeds.

Blood rises
from an old kiln

the river in your eye
in spring

slipped husks are shucked
mistakes mislaid

for memory to incinerate
as life’s concentric lessons

empty rings

shorn back by ash
you shiver in new skin

blush pink & ginger-ly          
licked  

against the black back
drop, your bark an ark

for voices.

In time
I’ve learnt that
old moulds fall away

we are all clay

& scars can fade in crisis
placate unmade places

pare back, slough,
shrug, peel,       breathe


*Angophora Costata:  Sydney red gum or rose apple

This poem by Cassy Cochrane was written in response to the painting below