Great Unrest

Oh, such a time of great unrest, Bold China stretches its grasp, North Korea shouts: "Look at me!" America attempts to control the crib, And England plays games and spits on its bib.

Australian too busy with football and cars,
Scarcely has time to open its jars.

Fighting and squabbling, blood on the streets, Protest my rights, no none can sleep,,
Desperate refugee forgotten too much to hold,
Why we are more worried, 'go the green and gold.'

Our babies we kill, no time to love, 'My oh my, oh my, let's save the dove!' The whale and the dolphin get our vote, "Get in!" You say, 'This is our boat!"

"Lost our way, you bray?" Never!" Say we, "Didn't you know, this life is about Me!"

Pain

Steel claws grasp to hold me Snarling jaws seek to devour me, Yet from the deep, I struggle As one searching for air, "No pain, my soul you cannot keep". Another time I see, beyond this time, Free again, living again. Fresh wind on my skin, riding fast, Cool water caresses me, as I swim past, Past struggle and injury, past torn flesh and agony, Moving again, living again. " No pain, you cannot keep me".

Pepper Tree

Well, now ugly giant,
You stand so broad and tall, Gnarled trunk, bulbous and rough, Yet you spray me with scented leaves.

What stories you hold,
what views you've seen,
The tramp who slept beneath you, The army band who sang around you.

What pretty pink orbs are these? Why giant do you feign beauty? Did some trick of fate confuse you? How can sweetness and ugliness abide?

Yet you do and continue long. The drought does not destroy you Your roots go deep, unseen and yet so strong. Time does not harm you, worm does not eat you ancient one.

Stay long dear friend, I cherish you.
Memories you give me, daily you call me,
"Stay awhile and learn from me, See with my eyes, hear what I hear".

A Time to Kill?

Proud folks in suits now gather,
To view a bill they say:
'This what they want, an easy life,
No trouble for us today.'

Yet thousands of small voices cry:
'Please no! It is us you do away!'
'Save us! Let us have our life,
We want to see this day!'

'We are doctors, politicians and nurses too,
We will care for you when you go through,
See us, small people, we're just like you,
Please, don't put us on the tray!'

' Now old you are, proud men in suits,
No longer strong, your hair all grey,
We want you no more in this world,
We have come, at last, to take you away!'

A Peaceful Place

As sleep eludes me, I scurry to my special place On the bus, I go, far, far, away. of sights and smells, held in times remembered a childhood dream, a memory still. Never on a bus before, never to visit my poppy, Up the river camping, away from all the noise. Past farms and streams, past mountains and trees, Finally, I found him, waiting beside his billy boiled. Dropping all memories of school, shoes and socks removed, toes wiggling in crunchy sand, oh the thrill! Cookies and milk, swimmers and hat, bean tin in hand, hunting worms, boat waiting, water lapping, lapping. Found! long red, slippery worms, soil and all in tin, Into the boat, clunking, rocking, water lapping, lapping. Swoock! Boat on sand, knocking, knocking, water lapping, lapping, Breeze kissing, sun smacking, oars reaching, reaching. Anchor in, rods ready! Poppy loads the worms, 'swing back like this!' Plonk! sinkers slice the water, piercing the darkness, seeking their prey. Waiting, waiting, rocking, water lapping, lapping, toes tapping. Lines run wild, "A bite, a bite!' 'reel it in, reel it in!' Proud times to bring the dinner home, No paper wrapper here, no oil from the chip shop sogging the spoil. cooked on a camp oven, smelling of smoke, tasting of river, salt, and pepper, Eaten with buttered bread, coals sparking and dancing, singing and prancing. Washed down in a bowl, tucked into bed, camp light hums and bugs come running, A story told, teeth cleaned and gleamed. sweet sleep to noises new. Ah! a place of peace I've found, oft to be visited, always around, Mine for the taking, safe in memory ground.

Australia Day 2016

Australians all let us rejoice
For we live in a home that is free.
We abound in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare.
We are larrikins, we love a joke,
We love a fight or a footy match,
When raining the cricket will do.

Today lets remember those who paid the price
For freedom we enjoy.
Let gratitude run deep with hearts
that overflow with pride,
Let's give them room when they struggle still,
Because they faced a horror we will not see.

We have enough to share
Let's not be greedy and think of us,
When so many give their lives
to try and come to this great land.
The Chinese came first,
what cooks they proved to be,
then Greeks and Italians brought colour
and Con the vegetable man.

Lets imagine what we will become
as we love our Aborigines and new found friends.
There is room for us all in this melting pot
If we make room in our hearts
There will be room in the land.
Culture and colour, cooking and chatter,
working as one makes us better,
Give it a try all you, in this great land.

Aussie Farmers

I live in the outback, because I love the land,

I raise cattle and sheep, feeding often with my own hand.

I grow wheat, canola and cotton,

I work from dawn to day’s bottom.

I think nothing of hard work,

This is not what I shirk.

I live for the cattle,

 And I’ll die in the saddle.

Of late things are rough,

The ground is so tough,

No rain have we seen,

Years now it has been.

I need you my friend,

I am struggling with the bend.

Dark thoughts chase me,

Without your help they’ll place me,

Six feet under and more grief than can be numbered await me.