Alene Ivey - Queensland Morning ('Glow')

The sun came up over Stradbroke like a raging bushfire, lighting the dawn sky with streaks of red and orange. Kookaburras cackled in the gum trees as I took my morning cuppa onto the deck and chose a spot in the sun. The warmth of the coffee seeped into my winter bones as I sat on the sofa.

In the garden, the dragon fruit had dropped their night flowers and the pink fruits were firming. Almost too beautiful to eat.

A flurry amongst the foliage brought a sulphur crested cockatoo into view. He squawked loudly and, in an instance, there were twenty of them, tearing off the new growth and boasting loudly at their appetite for destruction.

‘Get them!’ I cried to Phoenix and he rushed to do my bidding, barking fiercely as he ran towards the enemy.

The birds rose in the air and departed, loudly voicing their objections in a spattering of feathers and poop.

Phoenix returned to my side, tongue lolling out in a doggy imitation of a grin.

He settled at my feet and basked in the morning sunlight, eyes slow closely in a glow of contentment. Job well done!