Select the tallest tree
in the backyard and reach
up with both hands
grasp the lowest branch
place your right foot against
the trunk at waist-height
support your weight
with both hands and swing
your left foot
onto the trunk
walk your feet up to the lowest
branch then pull yourself
into a sitting position
pause rest and breathe
lift your feet from beneath
one by one onto the branch
then stand while grasping
the trunk pause reach up
for the branch above your head
and repeat the previous actions
until you ascend to the highest
branch that supports your weight
sit and gaze over corrugated rooftops
look down into neighbour’s yards
spy on garden sheds, vegie gardens
hills hoists, compost bins and swing sets
let go of the branch and balance
marvel at your poise and skill
fall backwards through needles
and branches towards earth
land on the lowest branch
grasp firmly and slow your heart
look around for witnesses
gently lower yourself to earth
walk towards the back door
upon trembling bloody legs
Nathanael O’Reilly’s poems have appeared in journals and anthologies published in twelve countries, including Antipodes, Anthropocene, Australian Love Poems, Backstory, Cordite, FourW, FourXFour, Glasgow Review of Books, Headstuff, Marathon, Mascara, Postcolonial Text, Skylight 47, Snorkel, Tincture, Transnational Literature, Verity La and The Newcastle Poetry Prize Anthology 2017. His books include (Un)belonging (Recent Work Press, 2020), Preparations for Departure (UWAP Poetry, 2017), named one of the “2017 Books of the Year” in Australian Book Review, Cult (Ginninderra Press, 2016), Distance (Ginninderra Press, 2015), Suburban Exile (Picaro Press, 2011) and Symptoms of Homesickness (Picaro Press, 2010). You can find out more about Nat on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.