Michael Leach resides in Bendigo, Australia on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Michael’s poems reside in journals such as Cordite, anthologies such as Best Australian Science Writing 2024, and his three books: Chronicity (MPU), Natural Philosophies (RWP), and Rural Ecologies (ICOE Press). Michael’s poems have won or been otherwise recognised in various competitions, such as the Hippocrates Prize. His next poetry collection, Chords in the Soundscapes, is forthcoming from Ginninderra Press.

The Zoology of Zebras

In this open range zoo, the plains zebras (Equus quagga) restlessly roam amidst yellow-green grass, grazing at will. In the untimed hours before and after grazing, these social mammals behave like horses, humans, monkeys and more as they bray to each other, move together, groom each other and stand with their lovers. They dazzle daily—their unchanging black-&-white stripes absorb & reflect light during every moment of every day. Still, amongst plains zebras, some things do change with the seasons. Crucially, when white clouds grey and the first storm of the wet season solemnly sets in, certain plains zebras at last lower their hocks and lay sideways to birth flickering foals.

Goosebumps

I get goosebumps as I reread Grandma’s last letter.
I keep seeing Goosebumps books in secondhand stalls.
A goose bumps into me at the champers and chook picnic.
Let’s get ‘chicken’ & ‘goose’ bumped from our list of insults.
I rediscover Goosebumps books in brown boxes that never moved.
I get goosebumps whenever I hear the humanity of ‘Hallelujah’ re-emerge.

Raynaud’s Syndrome

I suddenly sense the sting
of fresh chilblains
here in this cold corner of Australia
where it still rains
and relentless arrows of time
slowly kill brains
like mine, which still knows too little
blood now fills veins
and arteries way down in ten toes
that now will pain
me all the way along footpaths, right
up until lanes
have led me home—to this room where
warming chill drains
the blood back to neglected toes.