Unconfirmed rumours ...

Unconfirmed rumours of a famous death. 

The shock of that, 

of contemplating it as true. 

And it might be true! How can we

wait calmly to be told for sure? 

Meanwhile, a pale pink sunset.

Some readers on facebook assumed I meant Barry Humphries, who also died unexpectedly, a day later – but his death, though it surprised and shocked his many admirers, was not in doubt. I was referring to poet John Tranter, less famous but very important in Australian poetry.