THE END OF EVERYTHING

When the sleep-bellied River rolls over clear
and wombats can stay from the Shoulders
till the flathead Rise Up in Joyous Choral my dear
and the miner birds fall short of Words,

Darling cleave to me and I shall cleave to you
until we cleave to the dust Both Together
cleave my dear Heart to me and you Know I’ll cleave to you
till love and lust cleave to dust and Forever—

when the sun-drooping branches won’t Fire
and the bellbird Cathedral won’t echo
till the elvers never Struggle from the Far Coral Sea
and Sunburn and Bumps never snapper,

this smoky morning
cleave to me and I shall cleave to you
until we cleave to the dust each together
cleave your Love unto me and all my Faith I’ll cleave to you
for every god cleaves to dry dust together—

in the far haze Ikara won’t purple it’s Jolly
and Mallee dirt bleaches your palm
till the spring doesn’t wait for the wattle busting Gold
and our hard summer star will go gentle,

that sweet evening
cleave to me as I cleave to you
until we cleave to the dust together
cleave to me and I shall cleave to you while darling
all the heavens cleave to dust altogether.