Southern Cross

For James K Baxter

last day of summer
so they said on shore,
waves pounding gravel
gather dry drift
kauri Caledonian
washed up pine
to beach fire kindle
warm cooried round
sundowned bottles,
smoke wafting over
craggie range,
rim silhouetted,
embers crumbling
spart out, shower
a highway fiery
Jerusalem golden
on raven wings,
you knew, Jim,
cold and rain coming,
flare out still,
earth nightlit,
hemisphere homestar
burning bright.