late afternoon at estuary
sitting on deck chair
duck swims out of sight
light wind licks hair

sound of small plane
heard before seen
just above banksias
on other side of stream

murky scum stagnates
on this near bank
if put foot in it
very sure would stink

main flow of creek
clean and tidal
reeds on both shores
native birds’ hide-all

many insects live
in water and grass
plenty food for birdlife
which alongside pass

duck preens under-feathers
disappears below
about ten feet away
mate waits in water-flow

ripples breaking azure
reflection of clear sky
blue wren rests in shrub
before flying on by

smooth bark eucalypt
profuse pale lemon flowers
attracts birds and insects
nature’s magic powers

orange butterfly
flits here and is gone
ant size of pin-head
crawls and moves on

now white butterfly
wings edged in black
within a few seconds
covers fifty-metre track

grating call of wattle bird
up in closest tree
another one flies over
to keep it company