Open wounds


In early morning light

a pair of galahs cling to the side of 

Eucalyptus camaldulensis

spreading wings, beaks turned sideways

rasping along exposed cambium

exposed wood, an open wound

tender wood, crying after rain

the sweet sugars disrupted

on their path from roots to leaves


Grass heads are waist high after rains

roots drinking in unseen work

Cicada calls creating white noise

resilient trees, resisting ring barking

mother nature is terrific

(in the old sense of the word)

terrifying and awe-inspiring

this beautiful scene is killing the tree


Have you ever had a wound that would not heal

each new life event, made it open wider

blood escaping broken scabs


Have your ever had someone

rasping at your convictions

no forgiveness, no letting go, no freedom


Have you ever held a portrait

faded to silence, through damage of daylight

face shapes are an imagined outline


Have you ever wanted, ached for clarity

but the image is nibbled away at the edges

until you can't feel the timbre of their voice

or detect the rhythm of their step


Just raw wood, baked by the sun

soon it will turn black and heal the edges

if the tree 

is to survive.



Video by Wendy Taleo, March 2026.
Music 'The Sound of Silence', Simon & Garfunkel

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