Australia

Australia by Ian Ernzer

my red four wheeled vessel
took me from the Gold Coast
to Wollongong. miles, sorry,
kilometers of gigantic greens
and eucalyptus trees above
yellow koala-crossing signs.
sleeping by yourself in a tent
in a thunderstorm can be scary.
after clouds cleared I watched
satellites shimmer below stars
and imagined someone
looking down on me from one.
unimagined hospitality
got me through hunger pangs.
a father saw me lighting a fire.
he told his two boys to go help
the helpless American.
ten mosquitoes suck, literally.
alone again, trying to sleep,
something outside my tent—
shun a light on nearly twenty 'roos.
I heard one munching on grass,
then, it farted, and
I laughed myself to sleep.