falling man
even
this far south, cyclone Alfred shoves the swell
the
sea breathes green-glass towers
further
out, obsidian
roaring
as they tumble
tide
breaches dune
spinifex
runners are wild girls’ hair
tangled
plaits, bedraggled
bridal
veils climb the cliff
its
face impassive
a
gull-flock faces the fizzed-up sea
like
spectators up north, lining the foreshores
watching
surfers skimming
transparent
tubes, arms raised, flying
wipe-out!
boards shoot skywards
Sunshine
Coast mum’s photo
a man plummets headfirst
against
an avalanche of foam
dubbed
‘falling man,’ tagged iconic
goes
viral
not
9/11’s man
more
like Icarus’ plunge to the sea
flimsy,
spreadeagled
a
flung toy silhouetted
against
the wave’s perfect cadence
Jane Skelton is a writer based in Darug country and Yuin country, nsw.
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