Rosella

We need only to be here to see them

Slantwise to a slope, us all coffee’d out,

Bending flight at whistling speed

At rail, tip to tail a perfect balance, up about

Though where those colours came from

It’s anyone’s guess they are gone again

Spring ocean blue gumnut cochineal

Through gaps in trees along thin riverside.

For the Gould League colour-in book

We sharpened the crimson Derwent

Edges of indigo shaved into empty inkwell

Childhood coming close as possible poised

To evolution’s inexplicable blending

Delicately over template paper pushed.