We laid out

our new establishment

overlooking the estuary,

and began exploring

the bush kaos of

the hinterland,

uncultivated and

sterile, unproductive;

wondering if the

cosmos and we

ourselves were

created as we

made our environs

suit our purposes.

Philosophers and

other scientists

thought not, but then

only some thought

them superior

mythologists.

Dr David Faber is an Australian labour historian and published poet who majored at Somerset Primary School in pirates, wild colonial boys, British monarchy and imperialism. He began writing poetry at Burnie High School. He emigrated to Adelaide in 1977, fell under the spell of a Milanese admirer of Machiavelli, and moved with her to Italy in 1985, where he was a local official of the Partito Comunista Italiano. He now lives in Adelaide again, and visits Tasmanian family, friends, colleagues, libraries and archives annually. His next project is a co-authored life of Depression era Premier Albert Ogilvie.