DARLING HARBOUR 1976
We are dry and dirty
punk diesel daylight
bereft seagulls contend with rats
locked on granite rickle
beside this doubtful bay.
Everyone gets a splash -
bulk holy water for Broken Hill, the
20 gallon keg dwarfed beside the beer barrels -
rail terminus sweatbucks summer.
I have laughed at time
affecting Mediterranean accents, fitting in as
fifteen countries share the shower
and dream of desk jobs.
Our hands snatch boxes all day,
laying a path to extinguished nights.
This will never change.