by Earl Livings

After a day of grey
listless clouds and drizzle
that fades and returns,

a plane tree, with green,
orange-yellow, copper-brown
shrivelling leaves
shimmered by streetlights—
a roost for small black shapes.

They are bickering, scolding,
chatting, swooning,
jostling for sleeping spots
on swaying branches,

a rolling cascade
of tiny firecrackers
ringing the night.

• Camberwell Market car park, VIC, early spring