Frances Macaulay Forde - Desertification

before cultivation the water flowed
bouncing on leaves falling falling
to pool on fertile forest floor below

before cultivation the water flowed
flora bursting with life and clean air
jostling for sunspace canopy flirting

before cultivation the water flowed
we didn’t listen as we ploughed
clearing tree roots to feed fields

before cultivation the water flowed
now encrusted salt lusts after land
no sweetness here just bitter dry sand


(Published in 'Lines in the Sand', an anthology of West Australian Writers, published by the Fellowship of Australian Writers WA in June 2008.
Also performed at the launch of 'Shades of the Sublime