Katoomba

It was
the mist at the end of the world
the landslide and the too climbable fence
shrubs hiding paths to less visited vantage points
kissing a girl (a Girl!) as our legs dangled recklessly
                                                                                    into oblivion
the stairs that led us there
scratches
         and bruises
                       and leeches
                                     and dirt
biting dawns
dew
sermons in open bushland cathedrals
bush surfing on cliff tops
dropping coke bottles and listening for impact
waiting so long we almost gave up
rain
trees too far to see
overconfident teens with berets
tight flares and cheap suspenders
disposable cameras
a real one as a birthday gift
breaking it
mending it by taping a 20c piece to the
                                                            bottom
campfires
marshmallows
friends
girls
feeling confused and condemned
pleading to go back
                                one more time
letting it go
            when I realised their heaven
                        didn’t hold a place for me