by Louise Hopewell

Gold Coast
after the cyclone
earth movers rebuild paradise

a palm tree
missing its crown
circling seagulls

low tide
a crane lowers gabion rock
onto golden sand

collapsed dunes
skyscrapers soar
above sand cliffs

a gang of kids crawls
under the ‘beach closed’ sign
sand crabs

uprooted sheoak
beach access stairs
descend into air

‘danger unstable cliffs’
giggling girls build
waterfalls of sand

dangling spinifex roots
kids boogieboard down dunes
where the beach used to be

crashing waves
teenagers perform backflips
from the scarp

a lifesaver warns
of unpredictable currents
shifting sands