Black Cockatoos

Each certain kind of weather, or of light has its own creatures

Somewhere else they wait, as though they but inhabited heat or cold

Twilight or dawn, and you know other state

Then if that time they come, timid or bold

So when the long drought wins

Sandpaper harsh, we're still

And the air changed, and the clouds came

And other birds were quiet in prayer or fear

These knew their hour

Before the first fire flash lit up, or first thunder spoke its name

In heavy flood they came, 'til I could hear the wild black cockatoos

Tossed on the crest of their high trees, crying the worlds unrest

Crying the worlds unrest