EXPLORING OUR MAGNIFICIENT COASTLINE

Travelling Australia, no one forgets spectacular South Coast

of rock formations, all shapes, colours, sizes does it boast

by huge waves, winds, without abating, it's constantly lashed

many a sailing ship, in early days, against rocks it was dashed

no rocks can withstand this relentless pounding of these waves

over thousands, millions of years, creating shapes and caves

the energy expended, travelling endless kilometres of open sea

blowholes, far inland, foam spray above cliff tops, lone treee

there are reverberating thumps, boom like thunder, at distance

in rough weather, don't go near edge, you're taking a big chance

residual towers of harder rock, spectacularly rise from rough sea

near Port Campbell, in fine weather, "Twelve Apostles" you'll see

inland are large areas that are forested by twisted Mallee tree

big knobbly underground roots, wildflowers blooming in spring

Papery Sunray, Poached Egg Daisies, some large, some small

if you listen, stand still, you'll see Mallee Fowl, hear their call

most lakes connected to Murray River, overflow after heavy rain

then, for many wetland birds, this becomes their breeding domain

White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Pelican, BlackSwan, variety of ducks too

Mulga Parrot, Egret, Euro, Western, Eastern Grey, Red Kangaroo

travelling along The Great Ocean Road, many an unfamiliar sound

different horizons, changing coastline, the scenery truly astound

there are many spectacular vistas on cloudy days with varied light

elements of nature relentlessly asssaulting The Great Australian Bight

THIS

HAUNTING

LAND . . .

nowhere, but in our Australia, is there an inland sea

with waterbirds foraging on foreshore, some migratory

pelicans, white ibis, ducks overhead in flying formation

the moon, a day past full, soon will be the only illumination

shadows lengthening, sky changing by the setting sun

twilight doesn't linger, air is still, magic has just begun

soon light of new day, sun blazing orb in cloudless sky

there'll be no rain today, for a landscape parched and dry

stunted desert trees, red dust, hot, utter desolation

no place to linger long, but if you must, heed your preparation

simmering heat, mirages, tantalising oasis, cool waterfall

bleached bones of animals, grotesque in life's final call

yet in all its harshness, mystique, even in the distant past

never been any different, beautiful, haunting, unsurpassed

the decades rolled by, on and on, so did seasons in turn

even some of our early explorers, this a place they did spurn

isolated, relentless summer heat, wet season, different story

desert comes alive, riot of flowers, new life, what glory

if you travel this far, off the beaten track, in this country

it's there to see, experience it, on Birdsville Track, near Marree

A PLACE CALLED KAKADU . . .

A mixed feeling of expectations one could feel is in the air

after arduous journey along dusty, potholed road, nearly there

the end result of meticulous planning over a year or two

feeling magical Spirit, forged by history,of a place called Kakdu

Lowlands so ancient, witness to life forming, maybe here it began

the appearance of humans, in large numbers, Aboriginal Man

tiny rivulets cascading of escarpment, forming wetlands and more

weaving thru Eucalypt forests, creeks, mangroves, to sandy seashore

Kakadu's history recorded in yellow, red ochre, ingrained on rock

white man, of it's significance only now, too late, taking stock

wetlands, haven for birds, Jabiru, Brolga, File snake, Magpie Geese

domestic pigs, water buffalo, cane toad, camel, feral all of these

Camping near beautiful creek, waterhole for swimming, very clear

rugged cliffs, colourful slabs of rocks in water, magic to be here

feeding grounds of many conspicuously beautiful water birds

their morning chorus, like nothing else you've anywhere heard

Plenty of Wallabies, dwarf-like possums, black furred Kangaroo

grasshoppers, termites, scrub-fowl, nests they built, amazing too

on far horizon, small black thundery clouds starting to appear

getting more intense, indications of the Wet Season nearly being here

Violent squalls sweeping through trees, followed by torrential rain

the Wet Season, in no uncertain manner, has arrived once again

flooding drought stricken landscape, great miracles being wrought

lifecycles, dormant, resuming again, no one would have ever thought