BREAKING OF ANOTHER DAY . . .

Dawn chorus of birds, the sweetest melody

their songs echoing over valley and dale

daylight is breaking, shadows of the night flee

rays of the rising sun, ever so pale

Sun slowly rising, intensifying in its heat

morning mists in valley, slowly fading away

animals of the night beating a hasty retreat

emerging plants welcoming lifegiving sun's rays

There's a beauty in each dewdrop in its fall

its like a diamond, tumbling round and round

from Eucalypts and Wattles, Paperbarks so tall

sparkling on their journey towards the ground

Shafts of sunlight, dense canopy penetrating

eagles and hawks far above, soaring in the sky

myriad small insects in early light gyrating

whilst whispy white clouds, lazely drift by

Scent of varied bush flowers, ever so sweet

a vital role they play, in bush's regeneration

secreting table of smorgasbord, for animals to eat

in doing so, helping the process of pollination

Gently from chimneys of houses, in valley

place of peacefulness, picturesque, tranquility

smoke rising, undisturbed, spreading over plateau

now, this is a place to be, not a polluted city

OLD, BUT STILL LIVING . . .

The deserts of Australia are a facsinating place
nights very cold, days hot, shimmering in a heat haze
little rainfall, sparse vegetation, few animals survive
in harsh environment, early explorers lost their live


Some birds have adopted special skills, numbers are few
surviving on little water, sucking plants of their morning dew
some fish and frogs hibernate in tunnels underground
eagerly awaiting next season's rainfall, if ever it comes at all


In the distance, a few camels, brumbies, lazely roam this land
nibbling at sparse vegetation, dry, half buried by hot sand
a lonely dingo prowls, of human beings it surely is not shy
solitairy falcon surveys his terrritory, desperately seeking prey


Hostile environment, no landmarks, very, very intimidating
and yet, full of life, hasn't changed for eons, deeply facsinating
many a season has passed, some notably with no rain at all
many seeds laying dormant, waiting for that rain to fall


The Simpson Desert, ancient sea, dry since Gondwanaland
as far as the eye can see, unrelenting expanse of hot sand
age-old inhabitants, interacting elements, cruel, unforgiving
mimicking, mocking ancient sea shore, old but yet still living

NATURE'S WONDERLAND . . .

Smokey blue hills on horizon far away
wonderland of nature, grandiose in its display
from dry inland to where rainforests meet the sea
sun, rain, wind, each an entity, living in harmony


Cedars, eaucalypts, cut down long ago, large stumps
used in ships, houses, coal mines, new leaves in clumps
ribbon of silver, murmuring creek in steep valley below
gurgling over moss covered pebbles, not interupting flow


On steep mountainsides, all covered in coloured scree
supporting in small crevices, occasional stunted tree
against all the odds, it somehow manages to survive
a web of intermingled spidery roots giving it precious life


Myriad small insects dancing, age-old rituals, in subdued light
wild flowers, vibrant colours, eucalypts of great height
spiders, beetles, fungi, nests of birds, bush honey bees
brumbies, wild pigs, foxes, dingoes, kangaroo roaming free


Nature's way, micro-organisms at work, well below ground
making sure the bush's lifecycle keeps going round and round
each creature in it's own way contributing, not stopping toil
breaking down twigs, leaves, old logs, to enhance the soil


Waterfalls, ever changing sight, waterbirds and frogs,
wombats, lizards, snakes, sleeping in hollows, burnt out logs
to experience nature's wonders close at hand, time well spend
you'll really have to go there, a couple of days, pitch your tent