Under The Vast Australian Plains Of The Sky

Under The Vast Australian Plains Of The Sky


On the emptying volcanic plains
In a deserted near-lost town cemetery
Beyond a forgotten Hopkins River tributary
Down much neglected overgrown paths
Beyond the weedy thistles and long grass
A scree of older corner graves are shaded
By a rare grove of Sweet Bursaria trees.


Runted trees called Kurwan by an elder folk
Flower at whim as this summer. Bursaria
Transmits a discreet perfume to the wind
And summons in the Copper butterflies
To the nectar in its yellow-pointed anthers
As the jewel beetles of the night come
to its vast array of tiny stars of flowers.


But this is daytime and Kurwan trunks
Loll about, and lean as if for the heat
As the tree pulls down cool night in shade
from this high sun of after-solstice times
Bursaria leaves keep clandestine laboratory
To produce its own quiet chemistry
Of an oft unnoticed invisible sheltering


As Bursaria leaves grow in an Aesculin
Akin to a frankincense, a thing of balm
Found to be a skin protecting coumarin.
So a bursaria Aesculun leaf extract
Is now used to guard the skin of lupus
patients taking courses of irradiation
Like house guests under its protection


Also, the many at beaches, unknowingly
taking shelter in the chemistry of shade
to be found under the sweet Bursaria tree,
its Aesculin, also a perfumers’ aroma enhancer,
Is used in the lotions and balms of trade.
Added to your everyday sun-tan lotions
To screen out the ultra violent light


Of the vast Australian plains of the sky


Wayne David Knoll @ 22 January 2013, Mortlake, Vic.