For Fred Lang
there! the southern cross
points HMS Ariadne’s war time
Lieutenant Commander long retired
as we stand on the edge of
civilising light where paths
tangle into a bush labyrinth
near the border back of Eden
at least your daughter’s middle name
now makes sense
beneath the unfamiliar southern sky
I wondered why you chose to point this out
precisely then
under the words I hear your stream
hitting the dust and dry grass
your private sigh
that’s why you startled on my approach
I join you taking a piss
on that dark night
we shake last drops
turn in unison towards the light
following the thread back
to the weave of conversation
carried on inside