sleepy smiles

i’m sleeping out
for refugees
a protest
to say
hey
when someone
comes to our country
and they’re vulnerable
can’t we say
hey
i’ll help you

i’m sleeping out
for refugees
lying like a lizard
on a cold rock
outside the foyer
of the immigration
building

the cars jesus
revving their egos
circling prowling
unaware of the ugliness
of the city because
they’re part of it

i close my eyes now
someone cranks up the volume
the trucks the cars
pedestrians ticking
bunch of blokes picking
a fight on a tram yelling
and telling their mates
hey
and the eggs start flying
but i’m not even trying
to sleep anymore

i arrived late
and smiled to see
the happy mob
all bundled up
talking laughing
right on the corner
lonsdale & spring

i walked through them
towards the entrance
looking for a place
to lay my mat
i saw human-sized
cocoons nestled
against the revolving doors
would they be stirred
from their sleep
in the morning
like a lazy susan?

does anyone know i’m here?
does anyone care whether
the dreams of a refugee
just disappear?
mate shut up
have another beer

it’s a funny protest
at 6am
we gather our bedding
murmur well done
and with sleepy smiles
carry ourselves home