HEADING WEST

In the hinterland of life

west of the coast

by 25km of traffic

dense as dust we must

confront the size

of the problem.

My brown shoe

has lost its shine

and the sole worn -

singular or plural, urban,

ethnic, aged or rural,

alcohol-obliviated,

club-dominated,

fast-food saturated,

Diet Coke burpurated:

is it any wonder?

Map 241, F13 marks

the Mt Druitt of my soul,

suburbs built without amenities:

instead, misunderstandings,

sensitivities offended,

little attention to child care,

concrete poured and walls built

in haste against imaginary winds:

letters posted from here

and there give clues,

random roads and rusted gates:

public transport is bad.