WHEN RETIRED, TRAVEL AUSTRALIA . . .

Retirement for many people, holds an unknown fear

choice of what to do now we are retired, really unclear

the prospect of being home 24 hours a day, very boring

now is the time to get away from it all, go exploring

There are many old towns, museums, historical places

making new friends, a yarn by a campfire, new faces

listen to birds in trees, singing their songs, day or night

sit and watch rising, setting of sun, brilliant end day's light

Marvel at nature's pallet of colour, in autumn or spring

scenic, beautiful panorama of faraway horizon unfolding

unbelievable sunsets in desserts, mangroves, ocean shores

follow in footsteps of early explorers, who have gone before

See drought stricken and fire ravaged land, fish in a river

size and sight of some aquatic animals make you shiver

eagles and hawks, bustards, brolga dancing, what a sight

owls, possums, sugar gliders, wombats, watch them at night

Burning cane fields, majestic river gums along river courses

see wild flowers in bloom, camels, feral pigs, cats, wild horses

listen to wind in the trees, when camped near billabong

this is retirement, a new world has opened up, life's evensong

Orchards, vineyards, rice and cotton fields, see the irrigation

sheep stations, cattle, sheep runs, backbone of our Nation

aboriginal rock paintings, shell middens, hear the didgeridoo

sight lyrebird, dingo, cascading waterfall, old man kangaroo

Retirement, best part of your life, travel Australia if you can

see our great land, open spaces, throw away your previous plan

memories of places visited, implanted forever on your mind

beautiful Australia, your country, unparalelled, one of a kind

A CRISIS IN MID-LIFE . . .

To young people it seems a long way off

your mid-life crisis is coming too, don't scoff

we all go through it, you, me, friends, everyone

don't despair, it is the best time to have fun

It is somewhere between adolescence and old age

common thinking, brought up the kids, ready for grave

we realised and thought perhaps we've missed life's boat

people raising eyebrows, mumbling that silly old goat

Some men have a pre-conceived idea about all this

the time to fulfill their dreams and weirdest wish

trip to outer space, spending their money, willy nilly

be an astronaut, famous, fling with a young filly

Women hate looking old, worried about crow's feet

dressing-up as younger ones, on age they cheat

divorce, half his super, wild, wild parties, real cool

on with the make-up, rekindle youth, men will drool

The kids looking on, horrified, doing song and dance

o no, they are spending all that money, our inheritance

why, what are they doing to us, doesn't make sense

tried to stop us, miserable failed using any pretence

despite sly looks, some praise, criticising, underhand barbs

new lease of life, not yet for up stairs to play them harps

fountain of new found youth, elixer, ever so sweet

force to be reckoned with, old but not old, indeed

We will eventually answer the reaper's call, the final call

out of this life, into a bigger better next, a bigger ball

the twilight of our life flew by, not a single regret

blowing our trumpet, to our lovely kids, ratta-ta-tet!