Australia's always had it's droughts
For years and years and years
Crop failures and lack of income
Make strong men shed real tears.
But this year disastrous bushfires
Burned the forests all around
And what was lovely scenery
Is blackened burnt out ground.
Then, way up in Queensland
Weather patterns made a turn
It rained and rained for many weeks
Everything's too wet to burn.
Creeks and gullies soon filled up
Then the rivers burst their banks
There's water ,water, everywhere
With mother nature's thanks.
Two million acres covered
And still the rain comes down
No one can count the damages
Nor see what stock has drowned.
Spare a thought for all the farmers
plus those in isolated towns
Spare a thought for helicopter pilots
Who must take all supplies around.
When the the floods are over
And the land is dry again
A display of rarest beauty
Shows life from all that rain.
The grass will grow a metre high
Wildflowers will smile in bloom
The countryside will fill with life
In mother nature's outdoor room.
The stock will mate and multiply
Wildlife will breed content
And tourists will never know
How high the waters went.
The farmer sits on his front porch
And sends his prayer on high
Giving thanks for his prosperity
Now that his fields are dry
We can add our prayers to his
For the bounty which is there
For the freedom we all have
And a surplus we can share.
Author notes
the dry inland always blooms in beautiful colours after flooding rains. At this time no one knows what stock losses there are, or just how much damage has been done to homes , fences and infrastructure.
In a list
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Comments
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The balance in nature sometimes seems as though we are being punished by the rains, fires, and unspeakable damages they cause but we are gifted soon after with the blossoms and sprouts of nature's bountiful promise. Wonderfully written.
~Adair
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Many thanks for your visit and comments. Mother Nature will always do something to keep her lands functioning according to her plans. We humans are not being punished, we are just in the way. It is us who must learn to live with what Natures delivers.
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Amazing how nature has it's balance
new life blossoms from destruction, what brave men and women must live there.
I loved this educational poem.
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Thank you Cheryl. This poem is a little out of balance with more lines devoted to floods, At the time the floods were not big news on Tv or radio, but the fires were.
Our country has a history of struggle and hardship and we are still living with that same set of circumstances. Brave men and women is correct.
I am not one of them although I worked in some weird places at times. I could leave and go home from it all when my job was done. They are wonderful out there. i have so many tales to tell of the generosity and kindness shown to me when I was working ' beyond the black stump.''
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This poem paints a truly beautiful picture within my mind and makes me want to go to Australia even more than I may have desired before reading it. I did notice a small glitch in the tenth stanza about the farmer... I'm not sure if you intended to make famers plural, but maybe I read incorrectly.
Once again, I enjoyed reading this.
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Thank you Arrie, for you comprehensive comment and for pointing out that error. I have fixed it, thanks to you. Aussie is harsh and unforgiving in the inland, but it has its compensations when you learn to live within the parameters set by Mother Nature. The rewards are endless.
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Beautfully written with a true understanding of our amazing country - such times take so much away but then the next season offers so much bounty.
The North Queensland floods are a natural occurence but the recent Victorian fires are another matter, evenso the land will bloom again, trees and plants will regenerate and people will rebuild their homes and lives.
My sister is here from UK right now and is loving every minute of our hot, humid weather - crazy place we live in!
Von
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Hi Von, I thank you for you complimentary comments and thoughts. I wrote this one as the fourth in a series about bushfires, floods and the indomitable Aussie spirit. Being here in Aussie I know you understand the quirks of mother nature in our 'wide brown land'.
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Great poem here and one which we all comment on. Victoria use to be the wettest of places and queensland so hot, but it seems we have switched a while. You write such beautiful pieces that it really puts a big smile on my face. Love it heaps.
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Thanks again for your thoughts and comments. I put this one on a Uk site and it got 44 reads in two days. I just want the world to know of the disasters facing us in this land down under, and how the indomitable spirit of the Aussies will win out in the end.
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Great write Bob...you describe so well all the devastation you folks have endured...just watched the floods in Wales on news tonight, breaks my heart to see all destroyed...I guess fire and floods etc, must be Gods way of cleansing the earth...I pray for all involved and for the restoration of the areas that are now devastated...Take care my friend...mystic...
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I believe that Mother nature gives us humans warnings now then, to mend our ways a little. Funny that the best in humans is brought out by disaters such as these. All will be rebuilt in time and this disaster will be dim in memory when the next one comes. 'Tis the way of the world.
I thank you for your thoughts and comments.
Bob
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I've always heard and read about the beauty that is Australia. Your poem exemplifies this beauty and extremes which compose this wonderful land.
I used to dream of visiting Australia, at times even entertaining the idea of living there. Now at my age, I think I'm destined to enjoy it from afar.
Your poem is helping me do that, even through the devastating bush fires and flooding.
Dee
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each country has it's beauty, unique to that country. We only have one life time and the world is such a big place we can only enjoy most from afar. Through others writing we can get a glimpse of far off exotic places. I am getting old now and would like to share my bit of the world with whoever wants to read about it.
I have never seen the desert bloom in central Australia although it has happened several time during my life. My sister has, and from what she said, and the photos i have seen, it is truly magnificent. No doubt my country is not alone in this as Mother nature is everywhere.
Thank you for commenting, I do appreciate all comments.
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You sure bring to light the vast extremes of our rugged country. I just love your description of how nature rejuvinates itself after the floods. It is so true and you paint that beautifully with your words. Lovely poem...alby
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The major part of my life has been spent where extreme conditions are the norm.
As time passes I grow to appreciate what is there to enjoy. Including the discomfort and, on occasion, the tragedies, coupled with the array of beauty that is ever present.
thanks Alby, for your supporting comments.
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Behind every cloud there is a Silver lining Bob.I am sure it is very beautiful my friend. Sadly there always seems to be a price that has to be paid in every walk of life. Excellent...mal
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There is a silver lining my friend, a really big one. The price we are forced to pay is as much our own fault as that of Mother nature. We can only change what we control,and since we have no control over natures moods, we should make allowances for them.
Appreciate your kind words, my friend, thank you.
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Great Write !
We certainly live in a country of such vast extremes don't we Bob
Dorathia McKella sure had it right in her poem.
I love a sunburnt country
A land of sweeping planes
Of rugged mountain ranges
Of droughts and flooding rains...
Had to learn that off by heart in grade 6
Well penned Bob
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Aussie is most certainly a land of extremes. We should recognise the manner of those extremes and learn to live within them. There is also great beauty hidden in plain view for those who stop and look. Dorathea McKellar got it right in her poem. Many thanks for your thoughts and comments, Julie, I apprecite them.
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Thanks for this, Bob, I needed a note of optimism. Yes, I remember how the desert blooms so beautifully after rain. I hope that the farmers will be able to pick up again where they left off - Australia is such a hard mistress, isn't she?
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Despite the harshness of my country it always gives more than it takes away. We human settlers must learn to adapt to the moods of the land where we live. Many thanks Mercedes, I believe you do have an understanding of this vast land.
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