Shy & Bastet Chases Mall Rats by Henry Chase Richards
Shy
There’s a gecko who lives in our compost
sitting under the lid
nabbing the little
flies
that
circle
there
so numerous and tempting
She scurries away
hurriedly
when I open the bin
shy
not wanting to be a bother
not wanting to be bothered.
Bastet Chases Mall Rats
A fleecy vested lady
gliding gently into old age
brings some cat food to the laneway
in a take-away container.
This is her offering
to the pack of strays
of Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre
to keep them from eating lorikeets
and badgering bandicoots.
Like Egyptian deities
powerful and prone to mischief
Misty and Fluffles must be appeased;
they favour Fancy Feast.
Executive Producers
Sue White
Daniel Henson
