THE PICNIC FROM HELL . . .

they'd finally arrived after long journey at destination

Australia, land of vast distances, unique animal population

Aboriginal Dreamtime, koalas, kangaroos, many, many more

eagerly looking forward what each day would have in store

visiting opera house, blue mountains, places in between

there never seemed enough time for all that was to be seen

anticipating week-long trip, by plane, bus, to real outback

experience desert, ayers rock, olga's, of real time losing track

along the road bus stops, only shady, for miles, dappled spot

it's lonely out here, very, very quiet and o so dry and hot

the doors open, and out we step, camera's around our neck

clicking at anything, great nothingness, wild flowers along track

it's lunch time, so the picnic hampers are brought out

but, as soon as they are opened, there's a noise, very loud

a greatest mob of insects descends out of nowhere, fast

the aussie bushfly had arrived, with thousands in their cast

picnic tables, eskies, all were quickly covered by these pests

eating your sandwich, had to compete with uninvited guests

getting into hair, eyes, nose, bare arms and legs, everywhere

swallowing one or more, not nice, busdriver, get us outta here

these bushflies are as australian as damper and famous billy tea

causing that "Aussie Salute", as practised by you and me

a real aussie experience, what a story back home we have to tell

it wasn't really a funny experience, this "Picnic from Hell"

this haunting land . . .

nowhere, but in 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 only illumination

shadows lengthening, sky is changing by the setting sun

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

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

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

stunted desert trees, red dust, hot, it is 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, looking grotesque in life's final call

yet, in all it's harshness, mystique, even in the distant past

it never has been any different, beautiful, haunting, unsurpassed

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

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

isolated, relentless heat, wet season, total different story

deserts come alive, riot of flowers, new life, what glory

if you ever travel this far, of beaten track in this country

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