it begins with several thousand eggs/ and a greenish yellow glow
sinking to the bottom/ to lie amongst the crevices in the gravel/
the river becomes ethereal/ as a catfish couple fan the circular
nest two metres in diameter/ pieces of broken glass and crockery
may be carried to the area/ souvenirs from the dry world as the
water temperature rises/ catfish open fleshy lips surrounded by
whiskers/ dwell on the bottom of rivers/ prefer the deeper water/
only venturing into shallows on moonless nights/ for a view to
the stars and hot wind through red gums/ shrimps and crayfish
sense the mystical tail and rough scaleless skin/ as it passes beside
mussels partially buried in sand/ touch sensitive in muddy water
the catfish vanishes/ and strong stinging spines of the dorsal fin
deliver the painful wound/ of a native australian going down for
the last time/ yellow and green and mottled brown
