Shall I compare thee to an Aussie day?
Thou art in summer far more temperate
than winds so rough and hot they may
burn darling buds that grow upon a date.

Sometimes too bright, the bloody sun still shines
but in the afternoon is often dimmed
as thunderstorms march forth in ragged lines
with hail that tears at leaves and leaves them trimmed.

not even nighttime temps* attempt to fade
we lose possession of our wits, thou ow’st
a fortune for thy aircons*, wish for shade,
while all the time the mercury lines growst.

If we could only breathe, our eyes might see
the calendar, where autumn's marked for thee.

* temperatures
* airconditioners


                                 9 June 2024