Summer in Australia
Our summer months can be extremely cruel;
the heat becomes unbearable at times
and firebugs regularly play the fool
by lighting fires – the most atrocious crimes!
Our neighbour state, Victoria, looks grim
where many lives were lost in two sad days.
Whole families were wiped out on the whim
of senseless idiots who caused the blaze.
There’s utter devastation everywhere,
entire communities burned to the ground
but decent folks have shown how much they care
and come to aid the living when they’re found.
To me, our summer months are always worst
with fierce bushfires rampaging every day.
Sometimes I think our Aussie land is cursed
but it’s my home and here is where I’ll stay.
Those arsonists, whenever they are caught,
to sentences of MURDER should be brought.
Joan Benecke Feb 11th 2008
Author notes
Fires are burning in three states of Australia: Adelaide, Sydney and Victoria.
The worst bushfire tragedy is occurring in Victoria at this moment with the death toll at 181 and expected reach 200+ almost 1000 homes lost, some towns are still in danger of being destroyed and fire fighters are trying to contain them before they reach the towns, plus our native wildlife, cattle and pets that have died and have been injured.
Please pray for all the souls taken and their families.
"There's still a large number of people - in excess of 50 - who are unconfirmed and essentially these are people who the coroner believes are already deceased, but are not yet identified," he told reporters in Mudgegonga on Tuesday.
"When you see these areas from the air it's just a sickening feeling, particularly Kinglake and Marysville ... there's just hundreds and hundreds of houses completely obliterated so the toll will continue to rise."
Victorian police say they are closing in on a suspected arsonist they believe lit one of the massive fires.
Crime Department Assistant Commissioner Dannye Moloney is close to releasing a photofit of a suspected arsonist operating in the Churchill area in Gippsland just days before last Saturday's inferno.
"There are suspicious fires out there," Mr Moloney said.
"The Churchill fires, as far as we can conclude at this stage, must be considered as suspicious and that is being investigated as we speak.
"All the other fire sites are obviously slowly but surely being investigated by our arson experts and as the reports come in and as they go through their scientific examinations, we will establish the causes of what happened out there last Saturday and Sunday."
The Churchill Jeeralang fire has so far ravaged 40,000ha. It has a 130km perimeter.
In a list
A contest entry
- Huguenauties Contest No.#41 for MEMBERS OF HUGH WYLES FAVOURITES GROUP ONLY by huguenauties.
750 points, ended February 24, 16 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
I'm not gonna kick the bucket for a long time
Comments
1 - 22 of 22
-
Aussie Summer Sadness
WOW. You've really captured the tragedy of whats happening in our backyards. I'm from Sydney. The Summers were/are cruel. So much fear of fire. Great Piece Of Work.
-
-
The fires were very bad weren't they, the Victorian people really copped hard times, just as Queensland did with the floods. I'm from Sydney too.
-
-
I have noted the fires on our news programs. It is such a senseless tragedy. I can’t help but wonder about the mental capacity of anyone who would deliberately set a fire. Murder is what they are guilty of. Good heartfelt write.
-
Dear AJ, The bushfires this summer have been devastating and so much contrast between up North and down South. I hope they lock all the arsonists up and throw away the key. There are no names released yet so I don't know if my friends down there are safe and the death toll is sill rising.
Very well expressed. Good luck in the voting.
Love Hine
-
I saw the images on TV and they were tragic, sad and left me with tears in my eyes. I so much thought of all the people I know here that live in Australia and can only imagine the feeling of being powerless to such a devastating thing.
Heat can go wrong, specially if evil hearts fire nature to destroy lives.
Hope that your family and friends are safe
-
Oh Angelica, I have been watching the world news about the fires in your home country and they are terrible...I hope the person(s) responsible get the max for murder becasue as far as I can tell that is what it is...our thoughts are with you and your countrymen always...
-
sad~
I have been following this in the news
I am like Maureen I don't see how anyone could be so cruel.....to destroy pets and home trees and wildlife
I am thankful that you were not affected by this
Best of luck in the contest
Do come read mine as well
Hugs
Susan~~~
-
Very, Very Sad!
I don't understand how anyone could be so cruel! It's as though Satan himself visited Australia and had a field day torturing innocent people, pets and wildlife, destroying beautiful homes and surrounding countryside. A nightmare of epic proportions!!! In the midst of the devastating stories, it was heartening to read about the koala bear that was rescued by one of the firemen. Thank God for the good people in this world!!!
I'm relieved and thankful that you and your loved ones were not affected by the terrible fire. I hope the arsonist is apprehended and put away so he can never hurt anyone again!
I pray that those who lost loved ones and their homes find helping hands and generous hearts to ease their burdens and troubled souls.
Love and Hugs,
<3 Maureen
-
Dear AJ, Yes, the fires have been bad and I know of some of the areas affected because I've visited them when I lived in Victoria with Pete, They have caught one arsonist so far and he has been charged, he was responsible for the loss of houses and lives of 21 people in Churchill. I hope they never let him out. Great poem AJ Good luck.
Love Jenny
-
Yes, a sad and senseless tragedy. And I agree that the criminals should be sentenced with murder.
You poem brings in a human element more so than the news. And I hope you stay safe and well.
-
I've been watching the fires on the news. It is a cary thing. And how sad that it is the work of arson. Same happened here in California, and the guy got a reduced sentence because of a lack of evidence to convict him on more.
I hope the rains come soon.
-
-
The rain has come to Sydney, but not where the bushfires are in Victoria, fires are still burning. They have arrested a 39 year old local man for starting the first fire in Churchill. The locals want to get their hands on him but police have him in protective custody, the word is claims are made that he has something wrong with him, so he'll probably go to an Institution, put on medication and released, then he'll stop taking it and light more fires.
The law is for the criminals, not their victims.....That's my rant for today.
-
-
This poem really made me shed more tears, i'm from Victoria and mu Uncle and Aunt were caught up in these fires, they lost everything but they are still alive. I hope they catch the people responsible and give them the right punishment although no sentence can ever be enough for the lives, homes, land and our animals lost to these poor excuses for human beings.
Thank you for writing a tribute to our burning fires.
-
-
You're welcome sweetheart, I'm so happy your Aunt and Uncle survived the fire, so many lives were lost, my heart goes out to all the people of Victoria who have been affected by the fires. I know they have arrested a known arsonist, if he's guilty he should be locked up and never be set free so that other people won't suffer in the future from his addiction.
's to you
-
-
Joan, such a powerful piece,
full of your passion and outrage.
We from afar watch the scenes
on our TV screens and sympathize
with you.
M-C
-
-
Thank you M-C some fires are still burning in Victoria, I had a rant about our laws on Yems comment.
-
-
important to say
This poem is part of your living history, Joan, witness to your times and life in Australia. The wildness of Nature unfortunately is overshadowed by the cruelty of Man. There have been disasters in other countries which claimed more lives, but criminals cannot cause earthquakes. Your passion and compassion are evident in this great poem.
-
I'm SO glad you're okay Jo Jo!!!
And... I'm so sad for those who did not fair as well. There's enough unexpected tragedy without persons who create premeditated tragedy. To die by fire seems a most horrible death. God be with Australia. People often blame God when things like this occur. However, people are not puppets and, unfortunately, some people are evil as person(s) who started fires in Australia.
-
Dear Bea,
I’m sad to say the same thing happens here
with campers lighting campfires every year.
Fire-fighters battle blazes
which our native bush erases
and, of arsonists, we also have our share.
But our new PM says: “Aussies, don’t despair.
We’ll send a hundred firemen over there
and our massive heli-flyer
will pour water on your fire
or, if that runs short, they’ll put it out with beer!”
“Though at footy we, as Kiwis, may deride you,
in a tragedy like this, we’re right beside you!”
Applause for a great entry and best of luck in the voting.
BTW: I completerly agree with you that the arsonists should be tried for MURDER. Their actions are calculated, premeditated and deliberate, resulting in death/s.
Love and hugs, XXX Hugh (R.)
-
wow
And I thought that this only happened in the Los Angeles area... we have fires sometimes year round. Our brush fire season is usually in the Spring and summer months lasting through the fall time.. this past year we had them all year long.. I will pray for you and yours and the others who have lost their home or family members.
Yvonne
-
We've been praying for Australia's fire victims from over here in Chicago. I'm devastated for the victims and their families. I'm also heartbroken over the lost wildlife, as well. This is a wonderfully written piece. We can only hope and pray justice is served and done so swiftly and with sentences befitting the crime!!! As said below, burned at the stake sounds appropriate!
-
We've been seeing the devastating fires on the news, Joan. I agree with you that the persons responsible should be sentenced to death... maybe burning at the stake would be a fitting execution.
We have wildfires a lot here in Arizona and in other states in the summer, destroying thousands of acres of forest land but hardly any lives are lost, except for wild life, and sometimes populated areas are at risk and/or property destroyed.
But the fires in Australia are horrible examples of man's inhumanity to man and beast. I pray for their safety and for the survivers facing such heartache.
You've written a superb poem, Joan, and I wish you the best in our contest
Dee
Adding your comment:
1 - 22 of 22
