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