The reign of the hornet (Riverfire)
By Kate Lockyer
A rumbling in the near distance
Sheer daring pierces the sky
Afternoon joggers glance upwards
And I wonder, what is it they spy?
Jacarandas are blooming, warmth fills the air
The beginning of spring is dreamlike
But the changing of seasons also heralds a fear
That a sharp-beaked swooping will strike
But today, by the river, spring’s advent
Isn’t painted with black and white wings
Instead, it’s the might of an all-powerful wasp
Inspiring awe at the threat of its sting
Driving over the bridge, above the brown snake
The same bridge I cross every day
The footpaths are filled with something quite new
Excitement people can’t hold at bay
People smiling and pointing, just over my head
With my eyes on the road I can’t see
But above me I hear the roar and guess –
The Hornet – that’s what this must be
Suits and ties in the city centre
Peer past paperwork towers
On the 14th floor they catch a glimpse
Of up-close airborne power
As a thirsty wasp darts across the creek
Zipping past gums and wattles
The Super Hornet swoops along the river
Weaving through buildings full throttle
Just when it seems calamity will reign
Wing tips a hair’s breadth from a scrape
The close-up illusion shrinks to a speck
And you squint to see only heat haze
The racket, the din, the risk, the expense
Grumblings could go on for days
Yet still we collect, like bees to a flower,
Like wasps to a fruit that decays
Lining the riverbanks, rushing to windows
Feeling jolts of thrill and of danger
A buzz in the air, shared anticipation
Wonder reflects in the eyes of a stranger
Do we feel more connected, pulling life close,
As those pilots look death in the eyes?
And we realise, though life starts with the birds and the bees
In spring beware, they may cause our demise!