Blue Gum

Blue Gum

Tasmanian blue gum forest, with silver ferny leaf,
growing in swamps. Will the swamp ecology come to grief?
This tough  gum tree is almost grey on closer look,
the clever wood chip people, unless I am mistook,
have found a way to save our jarrah tree.
Lets hope that ecologists and scientists can agree.

This Tasmanian blue gum is natures pump,
No more swamps, full of dead tree stumps,
are CALM, Gunns and Bunning’s blue gum plantations,
just the beginning of our native jarrah trees salvation.
Or is it an ecological disaster for the wild life of the swamp,
Are the creatures there a victim of governments rule and pomp.


BUT I PAUSE,. WHATS THIS I SEE.



Can somebody give me an explanation?
I see blue gums growing, by the plantation,
On fertile farms. where cattle once grazed.
Now covered by trees of a blue haze.
Landscape is dotted with quick growing wood,
Where once farmers made a living quite good.

Giving away heritage for a mess of potage.
What will they think in their dotage.
Was it worth it for the money they received
Are their children being deceived.
When lovely farms are no longer to be seen.
We’ll all miss those paddocks of green.


Judy Paice August 2006