Authors Note: Bourke is about 700 km from Sydney and Tibooburra is about 1000 km.
Australia has an 'outback'
I've heard some people say
But I've never really found it
No matter where I stray.
I think it's just a reference
To somewhere that's not 'here'
If I ever find this place
I'll give a mighty cheer.
Coastal dwellers think of Bourke
As 'outback' across the range
But when you ask the Bourke-ites
They think its rather strange.
Their concept of the outback
Is way farther out from there.
They mention Tibooburra
Or maybe Lightning Ridge
'Outbacks not at Bourke
Everybody's got a fridge.
Someday I'll go out further
To find out what is there
But I'm sure I'll get the answer;
"Outback's way over there"
Maybe I'll just accept the fact
Like the city dwellers say
The 'outback' is an inland place
That is miles and miles away.
In a list
A contest entry
- All the cowgirls shakin' their sassafras ~ Holler Back ~ Down Home Poetry (open now to PWs) by Xianaria.
900 points, ended December 7, 2008, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
The Aussie "outback" is often referred to as the middle of nowhere
Comments
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Giggles a very amusing poem Bob, lmao.
Cherry
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It is a strange situation, and like you, I found it highly amusing. I once drove ten hours from my home in central NSW to get to a property where i was to build a shearing shed and mentioned the outback theory only to be laughed at by the property owner. I was tired and dusty at the time so I just laughed with him.
Thanks for your visit and comments, and am pleased you enjoyed the poem. -
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rbruce
A wild and wonderful country Bob with wonderful people to match
Cherry xxx
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Now that is funny! Where is the OutBack?
Florida has the OutBack Steak House with the Bloomin onion !
I love it - shrimp on the barbie. yum
Excellent write!
Cyber hugs,
Cheryl
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I have read many times of places in Australia's 'outback'. Many mentioned were places I had been and those who live there refer to somewhere else as the 'real outback'. A strange phenomenon, but one I can understand. Only the old time drovers visited the 'real outback'. To enlighten you, the ' outback ' is the more remote and very sparsely settled areas of inland Australia. Farms are called stations and the station area is measured in square miles, not acres.
Thank you once again for you visit and comments.
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We use to live in a place just outside the city called, Diamond creek. We went visiting one day some people in yarrambat and when we got there, I needed to go and asked them where the loo was. They told me it was outback....Could this be it? lol!!!!!!!!!!!Love this piece. It really was funny and made me laugh. I actually always considered places like Catherine and that area the true outback. Top job, Bob.
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I went out to a station about halfway between Bourke and Wilcannia to build a woolshed many years ago and said something about it being in the 'outback'. They were not amused and said outback was near Tibooburra. I have been to some out of the way places since then and the 'outback' is always somewhere else than there.
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Thank you for entering ~
I enjoyed this write, brought a smile to my face as I read. Nice rhyme & flow. Well done.
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Australia is about the same physical sizes the mainland USA, but it only has 21 million people in it. Most of the population is on the coastline where the climate is more stable and livable. The "outback" is a reference to somewhere in the inland where there are few people and lots of space. Some of it is desert and virtually unlivable, some of it is grazing land where sheep and cattle properties are measured in square miles, not acres. These are the places called "outback". It is a harsh unforgiving environment, yet the people are friendly, sardonicly humourous and versatile. For me a lovely place to visit but far too hot in summer for me to stay.
Thank you for your comments and for the opportunity to enter your contest.
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Excellent !
I really enjoyed this one Bob
I've never been to the 'outback'. Hmmmm....wonder how I'd know I'd found it 
Well done and good luck in this contest 
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Hi Julie, I worked around Aussie for about 30 years in some out of the way places, but the locals wherever I was never ever admitted to being in the 'outback'. It's a strange phenomenon but I guess the outback is wherever you personally think it is. It is relative to where you live now. Many thanks for you great comments and clappies.
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Sooo Funny!
This is just too good! The enigma of "the outback" yes it always seems to be somewhere other than where you are! lol. I just loved the lines..."'Outbacks not at Burke/ Everybody's got a fridge." (But I think "Burke" is spelt "Bourke")
I love Aussie humour, it was so good to find this today, it really made me laugh...alby
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Thank you for pointing out my lousy spelling, I never even noticed it. I'll fix that. The 'outback' has given me a lot of chuckles over the years but it is far from funny when you are out there and its a hundred miles to the nearest shop. It also has the most wonderful people I have ever met. Thank you for enjoying my search for the'outback'.
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I'm gonna make it there one day. (If I can find it! lol) I've always wanted to see the outback.
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You will enjoy yourself immensely but take care, it can be harsh and unforgiving to the unwary.
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AWESOME
Wow!
Another one of your fantastic! Amazing! Beautiful! Heart Warming! Touching! Interesting! Phenomenal! And a billion other good words that describe YOUR POETRY. It is so nice to read and I absolutely love them! you should try sell your poetry to a publisher sometime. When I'm a bit older and I finished my book I'm going to try publish it. -
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My dearyoung lady, I am going to publish about 40 of my poems. Hopefully the book will be ready by the end of this year. With regard to 'Outback. Where?' I thank you for your great praise. The term outback creates an enigma for me. I go out somewhere in the middle of nowhere and mention outback and I'm immediately referred to somewhere else. Its a problem.
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I think it may be somewhere just off the Nullabor Hwy where ya motor bike breaks down after dark and there ain't a thing in sight.
Well penned with some great thoughts on the location that possibly will never exist 'cept in the minds of tourists.
Cheers Mate
Linda
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Linda, you could be right. I have never crossed the Nullabor but would love to.However I would like to have the luxury of taking my time. I'm a photographer too, and I have heard that there some magical shots available across that way. Thanks for your encourageing comments.
Cheers to you too.
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You have to detour due south and catch the cliffs...spectaculer at certain times. Have many shots in the bottom of a box somewhere. Hope you do get to capture it
Linda
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I think it might be in our north (Canada)
light with humour... nice thyme and flow
I like this best:
'Outbacks not at Burke
Everybody's got a fridge.
the ending is perfect
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Thanks James. I think every country with any size has an 'outback'.Its really just a place where human population is a bit scarce on the ground. Your north in summer would qualify and in winter would be a sitter. Over many years I have travelled over the eastern half of Ausstralia and when I mentioned outback I was always referred to somewhere else. I am pleased you could relate to the poem. Cheers.
Bob.
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hehe.. well I'm over here in Aussie at the moment and I haven't seen that outback either yet!!
I bet it's here somewhere tho!!
What a great write!
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Jackie, I spent about 20 years all over and I haven't seen the outback either. I thought it was but the locals always had somewhere else in mind. Thanks for reading my piece and welcome to Oz.
Cheers, Bob.
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love it......aussie aussie aussie
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That was quick. I was editing it when your note came through. Strangely enough I like Burke, Its way out but friendly. Go Aussies everywhere!
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