(Johannes Alt, Graphische Samlung, Albertina, Vienna)
It has everything you need
the desk in the light.
the chair bentwood and straight.
A room of its own around it.
The evidence of work begun.
In front of course
past the terracotta
pots, a view of all
our earthly works:
the town and fields,
hedged to perfection.
Light, dark, marry
on the window's edge,
The view, the task.
Out there sunlight
inks the field with
posts, here you
plough the page,
begin again
knotting up these
worlds, the word
the view, the desk,
and behind you, unseen,
of course, the bed.
The Sydney Morning Herald, March 1993