One more upright

Slender gums newly white

like adolescent boys stripped for a swim.

At the shadowy edge of the spinney

a man discards clothes and walks

slowly through the familiar forest

savouring warm currents on his skin.

He stills and listens to the silence,

one more upright among the trees.

A rock wallaby, ears alert, moves off

so close the man feels fur against his leg.