by Alex Robertson

This Arrernte space
McDonnell Ranges orientation
…East to West arrangement
Scattered with intermittent Gaps
Waterholes pooling in the space
or chasm-like structures
Lines to read a landscape
with plenty of ferrous earth
Difficulties of moving latitudinally
Alice Springs welcomed
on the edge of the Todd River
Dry, sandy beds in arid surrounds
Gum trees lining the banks
ANZAC Hill a rare summit
outside of ridgeline patterns

Heights rare in Central Australia
Haast’s Bluff & Uluru as sacred sites
Artesian water aplenty
Thunderstorms as life givers
to Desert Pea landscapes
The Finke emptying beyond borders
Rivers as afterthoughts in a dry interior

Low to ground shade
away from significant geology
Protection from elements, regardless,
Needed in blue sky landscapes
Low humidity, nocturnal survival
Crepuscular actions the safest
To avoid the coolth and heat
Green & purple tinges on rustic charm
Firestick farming beyond cattle & camels
The want to farm native animals
Still a case too hard to present
for the dinner plate…