Published in Overland Issue 220 Spring 2015 · Uncategorized The bush and the internet are interchangeable Michael Farrell A wife looks at her husband; a treefrog at a modem. They view the bush from a comfortable position: enjoy wifi by the campfire like a Manet. Five years later the scene becomes unrecognisable. (May flocks of mosquitoes and other blessings … But that’s no subject.) Suddenly, after pages of sympathy, to see a yam like an idealised bull pizzle. (Pizzle a word not often mentioned on the internet.) The paddock’s dry, the river flows into the spare living room. There are videos of thousands of birds avoiding each other. Why? Yet, a poem should not resemble flora chatting at a party. Sometimes it’s hard to know where Australia is. Am I that snakeskin? Or the wind that tweets of conformity? I’m searching for your ghost name in quote marks your picture, your catchphrase, the trace of your body lures me on, we are heading further away from the town, the road is narrow, winding, leaf litter everywhere. I’m clicking on life guards but the air con’s unresponsive. I know there’s salt in the creek: a pink cockatoo’s spitting popcorn at the window. Should fences keep vagabonds out or in? Beware a flash cattle grid: cluey trolls will tuck up their swags and roll right over it Michael Farrell Originally from Bombala, NSW, Michael Farrell is a Melbourne-based poet, with a collage practice which can be seen on instagram @limechax. Googlecholia is out now from Giramondo. More by Michael Farrell › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 29 January 202529 January 2025 · Palestine The demonisation of the Palestine movement fuels anti-Muslim racism Mariam Tohamy and Miroslav Sandev The spate of anti-Muslim racist attacks around the country are being fuelled by the anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian policies of mainstream politicians. Political attempts to undermine the Palestine movement and bipartisan support for Israel’s genocide are causing this. 27 January 202527 January 2025 · Cartoons “… but fight absolutely” Sam Wallman In which Sam Wallman illustrates a stirring quote from the great Mike Davis.