A JEWEL ON THE WEST COAST . . .

It was by mere chance discovering this jewel going down narrow bush track
never seeemed to end, anticipating vista awaiting, didn't want to turn back
discovering it, of which the locals, in their wisdom, they certainly didn't boast
a place to escape fast pace, humdrum of polluted city, yet so close, on coast

Beautifully eroded limestone cliffs, standing amongst clear water, lapping shore
undulating dunes, pristine beach, here and there a shipwreck, adding to decor
this is a place, although close to suburbia, one can relax, it always will be there
Pt Peron, at backdoor of city, waiting to be discovered, unparalelled anywhere

Whenever there, new discoveries are bound to be made, maybe in rockpool
or when meandering along myriad dune bush tracks, in summer shady and cool
one could encounter spectacle of Sea Eagles soaring high, in cloudless sky
maybe sit yourself down, let the beautifull landscape, for later, fill mind's eye

Going fishing off rocks, being careful where one steps, not catching any fish
didn't seem to matter, absorbed and surrounded by nature, what utter bliss
the impressive drama of changing colours of mirror images in water of rocks
one can almost tell the time of day, nature providing its own unique clocks

At night the enchantment of silvery moonlight, over limestone cliffs and bay
to be here forever, why leave, holding one spellbound, whether night or day
in winter would be even more dramatic, swell of huge waves battering reef
to weary sailors full of danger, shipwrecks, testimony of having come to grief

The sky, cliffs, beach all turning red, ocean looks like pool of blood at sunset
maybe at end of some bush track a similar jewel awaits to be discovered yet
in beautiful Australia, unbeknown to most, may be many more such places
depending on time of year, you too can experience it, a nature of many faces.

MEMORIES OF A CEDAR CUTTER . . .

On his verandah there sat the old man, box of old photos on the ground
reliving days of his youth as a cedar cutter, when still of body, mind, sound
almost confined to wheelchair in his twilight years, dog keeping him company
memories came flooding back, from years gone by, they were varied and many

Magically in his mind's eye, photos come alive, showing mates and working chums
revealng dense expanse of mountains, valleys, witth stands of tall grey-green gums
they treated each other like a brother, the years they spend helping one another
that special bond still seemed to exist even now, whenever there was a get-together

Echoes of the sounds of axes reverberating, cutting down tall Cedar trees, chop, chop
the call of "Timberrr", a ver pronounced silence, mighty whoosh, when giant did drop
in the distance the bullocky was waiting with his team, whip cracking, chains a-rattle
to move this giant down the steep mountain, would be a very difficult job, a real battle

The bullocks pulled this way and that, the bullocky's colourful language renting the air
come on you lazy Molly, Daisy, you can do better, I want a bit more bloody pull there
steam rising from their backs, straining chains to breaking point, whip swooshing thru air
finall giant log started to move, this was the danger point, one had to take great care

Those were hectic days, no letting up of the arduous shifting of logs, more ahead
logs had to moved off mountain, come what may, one careless move, you'd be dead
they were held on embankments near the river, on which to be floated, after rain
there were many such places, to drag logs too far was dangerous, in this steep terrain

Soon rain did come, the logs released into the river, really dangerous work now began
guiding them over rapids, around bends, the untanglements when caught up in a jam
one had to be almost a ballet dancer, jumping from log to log, half submerged, wet
in past some lives were lost, crushed by logs, losing footing, sofar hadn't happened yet

As men and logs furiously sped past,looking on in awe, were the settlers along the river
watching those taking risks, even the thought of one slipping under logs, made you shiver
after hazarduous journey logs finally reached enormous millpond, this their holding yard
from here through the noisy saws, processing of beautiful timber would now really start.