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