Katie and I are back at Marbeelup and Joojilyup—
Chapman Brook and the Blackwood
intersection,
this time with my American
cousin-brother.

As usual, we head up the Marbeelup Chapman
a way—as far as our two-person kayak
with take the three of us.

Then we turn back,
and paddle out beyond the 
point of the waters’ meeting,
out into the widths
of the Blackwood.

Earlier, we read the signs again
about the significance of this place.
The way the Blackwood flows
all the way from Mulga’s Cave;
its relation to the rocks south of 
Canal Rocks.

And now, out on the water, 
we read the signs again:
Karris, peppermints, a grove of tuarts,
marris, jarrahs. farmland behind.
A spot for camping. 
Cormorants.
The sound of karak the red-tailed
black cockatoo.

We pause and talk and go quiet
and drift.

Waters meeting waters—
out there,
in us.