What madness is there is this world
When lives are risked to save a tree
It's fine if you want to risk your own
But don’t risk the lives of my family and me
You can’t control burn the greenies cry
To lose even one tree is such a waste
And the councils clamber to back down
With surprising speed and haste
So the tree’s grow thick and oh so lush
An awesome sight to behold
But then the heat dries them out
And the green turns brown and gold
The land becomes a baking oven
And then there comes the wind
Now from the tiniest little spark
Hell on earth is what begins
There is nothing standing it its way
Nothing to hold it back
With ample fuel and no fire breaks
There is nothing that it lacks
A monster that consumes everything
Destroying all that's in it's path
Leaving death and devastation
Along its huge and ugly path
Gum trees explode, homes implode
and water holes turn to steam
there is no escape no matter where you run
like a never ending frightening dream
There’s a knocking on a neighbours door
And a man stands there with no skin
Here take my daughter and save her life
Thanks, I don’t really need to come in
I’m lost my wife and my other child
She’s all that I have left
I know that i will not survive
I stand here totally bereft
The cars lie still and piled high
where people have tried to flee
Their burnt out shells and open doors
The most truamatic sight to see
All over this wide brown country
We are all reaching for our phones
Calling up our loved ones
And hoping to God they’re home
Hearing on the television
Their town is ingulfed in flames
There are very few homes left now
And you whisper your loved ones name
Oh but what about those greenies trees
At least they didn’t cook
But at last count over 200 lives
That’s mass murder in my books
Author notes
I'm not saying controlled burns are the answer and the only reason these fires have been so bad, not by a long shot, but to do them may have saved some lives..... some closed minded and obsessive people have a lot to answer for.
The man with no skin holding his badly burned daughter is true by the way, he will die as he had burns to over 80% of his body, but his daughter may survive.
My loved ones are safe, thank God.
Comments
1 - 20 of 20
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Something has to be done about this. Every homeowner should clear the trees around his home for about half a mile. Anything but risk what the poor man went through. It's bloody awful. I canceled my monthly support of Greenpeace because there are times when environmental concerns usurp human ones. Sometimes they must, but other times they are just ridiculous, like in this situation. You got the point across very well.
M
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Thanks Mark, environmental concerns are great, we all need to be concerned, but, there is also common sense. Over here in the west, if we don't clear, we get fined! In the east, if they do clear, they get fined! Obsurdity!
I am bringing a special gift for you and Claudia to LA with me that has something to do with these fires, knowing you as I do I know that you will LOVE it, don't ask! you have to wait and see.....
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Bec, This is terrifyingly real. Whatever the reason for the fires, I am so sorry for the loss of life and homes lain waste. The heat only made it worse, but I can't help thinking that there isn't enough justice for an arsonist...not nearly enough.
I could not open the picures you sent me, since my comp u ter didn't contain the right programs, but I know they were horrible.
The poem is powerful, for no matter where the blame lies, the tragedy is overwhelming. Well written....
Karen
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I think it may be mistaken to blame the "greenies" - climate warming suggests that events like this may become more common as a result of man's gross mismanagement of the environment. Let's wait until there's been a proper investigation before apportioning blame in this sad disaster.
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Hi Barry, there are lot of factors that contributed to these fires, I just picked on one, I could write a similarly passionate poem about arsonists and shoddy building approvals allowing people to build houses totally inappropriate for the area and climate. There are many reasons why these fires start, but one of the reasons they kill so many is they are so hard to contain.
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Bravo and very well penned indeed. This is such a tragedy of unparalleled proportions in our country. Totally agree with all you have said and I am pleased you are safe.
You have written haunting images in this piece whuch reflects what we are seeing on outscreens each day.
Thank you for sharing. This says it all.
Gaylene
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Thank you Gaylene, there was a amazing article in the paper about a fireman who found a dead child and when he rolled him over he said his eyes were open and they where the bluest eye's he'd ever seen, and that they would haunt him forever. There are so many things that are going to haunt the people of australia for many years, I still remember the Ash Wednesday fires and these are so much worse.
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Not only are the greenies mass murderers, so are the bastards who are lighting some of these fires. I'm lost for words...great write
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You are so right, as I replied to Barry, I only picked on one issue here but could easily right something equally as scathing about other issues that contributed. Controlled burning doesn't stop the fires from starting, it just aids in the containtment of them and slows them down, giving firies a chance to get ahead of the fire and people chances to escape. These fires were travelling at 150km per hour. There is no escape or containment from that.
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Heartbreaking. A terrible thing that is happening. Well written, keep it up.
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Thank you for your comments, I'm glad you appreciated the poem.
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Your poem is overwhelming. Thank you for sharing this with us. Australia and her people have been and are still in my prayers. I am glad your loved ones are safe. God bless you.
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Thanks Katie, I'm so glad my loved ones are safe too, I am on another web site that has some aussies from Vic on it and they have not yet checked in, rather worried about them.
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its so sad
This poem is so sad but you are obviously passionate about this, the way you describe the deaths is so powerful, and really hits home. It is an inspirational and thought provoking write.
It made me shiver, to think of people losing their loved ones and how terrible their deaths are. If we could save even one more life wouldn't it be a good thing.
Keep writing,
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This makes me shudder. Powerfull writing here. If controlled burning would save even one human life it would be well worth it to lose even a thousand trees.
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You are so right!!!
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Kudos
When I first saw the name, watching too much dexter and loving saw 1 through better be 100, I figured mass murder... wonderful. But as I started reading, life became unreal. Actually read the words like I felt it. And when you wrote about the father giving their children up while burnt sent chills down my spine.
At this moment I haven't said one word, just typying and looking dumbfounded.
Really amazing. Kudos.
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Thanks so much, I do love Dexter too, I hope you weren't too dissapointed. I try not to watch too much coverage of it here as it's just so horrible but read the story about the man knocking on the door, which was enough for me.
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this actually gave me chills.my heart and sympathy go out to these people.
i'm glad your loved ones are safe.i can relate somewhat to
where you are coming from because i'm a katrina survivor.
the worst thing a person can endure is not knowing where
you loved ones are during a time like this.for three months after katrina my family had no idea where my youngest brother was and he knew not where we were.when we finally
found each other we all said our only thought during separation was is he,or they dead? i can't write anymore.
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Thanks so much for your comment, I forutunately didn't take to long to contact my 2 friends, but was very afraid for one of them when I heard her town was on fire. It is an aweful feeling but your situation must have been so much worse. There are so many in Victoria now searching for loved ones, it's heatbreaking.
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