a toll at the end (for the evening walk)

the evening held
no cloud
at all

descending sun
and fading blue
that parted
with each footstep taken
forward

the dog
at number two-doors-down
presents
with woofs
for pats

a staggered journey
but there’s no rush
for the evening
is still hovering
and the light will last
at least
till after return-back-home

and around the corner
down the way
the next-sequence dogs
are unavailable
resting up inside
maybe

no patting there
just a stride-on-past

with attention
to six cockatoos

not one of them
can fly

the only bird
to hold a line
had the hook-beak
of an ibis
and the mis-demeanor
of a minister assigned
to an impoverished congregation

magpies
wordle-ordle-o
as they stalk
and hunt
dotted
around the grassy verge

and so to home

the blue
is tasting violet shades
the horizon
blushing tangerine

a lone parrot
tolls
a belling
away off
in the distance
the day

is done

~

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