On the other side of the school back fence
there is a paddock full of lush wild grass
and there are nanny goats and their kids
who wander around and bleat
and sleep sometimes in the thick grass
with just their ears poking up.
In the gully is the river
surrounded by willow trees
with their branches weeping low,
brushing along the surface.
And sometimes when the sun is high
and you look really close you can see
little silver fish darting around.
On the eastern bank of the river
someone has tied a rope to one of the trees
and if you’re tall enough
you can grab the rope and swing yourself
far out above the water
and if you wanted
on a hot sunny day
if you’re wearing swimmers,
and it’s lunchtime
and no one saw you jump the back fence,
you could drop into the water and swim,
laughing all the way to the sandy shore
watched only by the goats
and the glorious sunshine.
When you were dry and dressed,
back in your school uniform
and sneaking across the paddock
hiding in the long grass,
before climbing the fence back to school
you’d notice
someone has written the word
paradise
on the river side of the fence
where no one can see it but you.
In the last few seconds before you return to school.