Flexmore Hudson (22 September 1913 - 1988 / Charters Towers, Queensland)

Midsummer noon: and the timbered walls
start in the heat;
and the children sag listlessly over the desks,
with bloodless faces oozing sweat
sipped by the stinging flies.

Outside, the tall sun fades the shabby mallee
and drives the ants deep underground;
the stony driftsand shrivels