Two green men sway with delight
Gripping the ground with all their might
Outstretched arms flap and flay
Like a gaggle of kids let out to play
Two tall men as straight as a die
Lean in to whisper
A joke so good
It will make them cry
With stringy backs arched
They let out a roar
Trying their best
Not to fall to the floor
Two green heads shake out the laughter
Take a long sigh
Regain their composure
Long green fingers gently wriggle
The sun disappears
The men still giggle
They’ve always been close
These two green men
Friends from the start
Destined never to part
Now they stand perfectly still
Waiting with patience
For the next gust of thrill.
(Epilogue)
Two dead men, a hundred years on
Fingers gone
Branches broken
No rustle of leaves or flapping of bark
Just occasional groans
Softly spoken
The men are at peace
They’re in the long wait
To return to dust
They must
That’s their fate.
Peter Edward Choraziak is a former advertising creative director and festival director. He lives off-grid in the high country of Tasmania overlooking Arthurs Lake. Always a bushie at heart, the Tasmanian landscape has inspired him to fulfill his desire to be a writer when he grows up! Peter’s interests include all things creative; all things outdoor, sustainable, and delicious; world affairs; and above all, family. Peter writes poetry and short stories and is publishing his first novel in late 2025.
