Introduction                                                            Page 2

Many of the themes that recur throughout this work may be seen, as in a first

glance, in the image of "Gum Trees Stripping" (C.P. p. 133);

Say the need's born within the tree,

and waits a trigger set for light;

say sap is tidal like the sea,

and rises with the solstice-heat -

but wisdom shells the words away

to watch this fountain slowed in air

where sun joins earth - to watch the place

at which these silent rituals are.

Words are not meanings for a tree.

So it is truer not to say,

"These rags look like humility,

or this year's wreck of last year's love,

or wounds ripped by the summer's claw."'

If it is possible to be wise

here, wisdom lies outside the word

in the earlier answer of the eyes.

Wisdom can see the red, the rose,

the stained and sculptured curve of grey,

the charcoal scars of fire, and see

around that living tower of tree

the hermit tatters of old bark

split down and strip to end the season;

and can be quiet and not look

for reasons past the edge of reason.

"Gum-Trees Stripping" was published in 1955, in The Two Fires. ²

² Sydney: Angus and Robertson