It's stinking hot and the flies are there
No sign of rain anywhere.
Yet up the coast they had rain to spare
Water, water, everywhere.
And on the ranges down south a bit
On higher peaks snow just sits.
Well, all we've got is dust and grit,
Too dry to even spit.
Some dry grass, but more bare soil
Strong winds in a mighty coil
Try so hard the land to spoil
Mother natures foil.
.
River's dry, the paddocks just dirt
Poor cows stomachs must be hurt
Each step means that dust does squirt
Much too hot for bull to flirt.
But when the rains have done their best
Mother Nature gets all things dressed
In its most beautiful, glorious best
Then I'm glad I stood the test.
This wide brown land has everything
That flood, fire and drought can bring
Yet it's beauty makes my heart sing
Like a puppet on a string.
A contest entry
- MY COUNTRY by condor.
850 points, ended November 15, 14 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
comments ?
Comments
1 - 40 of 40
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a beautiful vision and countryside. I know it is as awesome as you speak of here in your poem someday I hope to see you awesome home lad hugs always and thank you for this beautiful piece Angel♥
I knew i had read this on no wonder my clappers didnt stick ♥ -
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Angel, there is so much to see, so many places to go, I now look closely at what is near. I shall never see all of my own country. There is beauty close at hand when one takes the time to stop, and look.
Thank you for your lovely comment, it's very much appreciated. -
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Bob, some day i want to see just part of your beautiful country hun.. would be an honor♥
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Sounds like New Mexico where I live Bob. You've written a delightful piece that conjures up a familiar image. Good luck in the contest and happy trails.
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It's my little bit of this huge land David. Like your own country there is a great deal of variety when you travel long distances. Thanks for visiting and good to see you again.
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Very nice poem. It's amazing how we can see everything, the good and the bad, in our countries and still love them so much. You did a great job writing this to show it all. Keep on penning. Thanks for the read.
Brook -
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I thank you for your visit and comments. It is a true indication that we love our country when we can acknowledge its shortcomings and faults and love it anyway. The contrasts only help the overall beauty that is always there.
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This is such a beautiful write with simply excellent rhyme that could not be faltered. I love how you described your country with such harshness yet such beauty. I believe if I were to pick a favourite part out of this, it would have to be....
River's dry, the paddocks just dirt
Poor cows stomachs must be hurt
Each step means that dust does squirt
Much too hot for bull to flirt.
This particular part put a great big smile on my face and I could see that poor bull standing there unable to even raise a smile. The simplicity of the write was just perfect. it was neither over done nor underated but spoke with the heart of one who cherishes each and every day regardelss of the times they endure. I can see why such wonder would have your heart singing. Thank you for sharing this most glorious piece and the very best in the contest.
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Many thanks to you Lee. I believe that a simple poem has a far greater value than a complex one. More readers are able to read and understand it. Our weather is still dry. we had 3 lonely mm of rain last night while up Coffs Harbour way they had 500 and something. They have too much and we have too little. However I still have this thought that our turn is coming and the whole shebang will blossom.
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It is all so hot here today, Bob and A hot night on the way which I am not looking forward to cause I cannot sleep. More heat to come. Looks like it is going to be another long hot summer and another long drougt continues. We did have a bit of rain last weekend and three days of awesome lightning storms but I fear it is not enough to push us over.
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We have a cool day after some hot ones. 35 and up for a couple of days with nights to match. better now with nights cool enough to sleep. I don't know where the drought is going butrain is desperately needed round here. Grass in the paddocks all but gone. Lots of bare dirt now, and dust. Our small bit of rain at least washed the air.
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Ha!
You must be unlucky! A couple of weeks ago I saw a weather report showing a gigantic rain-fall over an immense part of south-east Australia. How nice to feel the way you do about your land.
E
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It's a strange place out here. A few hundred miles away floods are now receding for the fifth time this year. Yet we have had virtually no rain at all for months. Such is life. About two hours ago the rain started to fall here, soft gentle rain, no downpours, and the slab of concrete out the back is actually wet. It would be wonderful to get an inch of rain.
Thank you kind sir, for your thoughts and comment. -
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Bob
Glad you have had a bit of a damping. Nothing quite like the smell of the earth after rain. I wonder who is the rainmaker - you or I?
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I cannot claim credit in any way, shape or form; I am a mere human. Mother Nature looks after her own realm in her own way and in her own good time.
The smell of earth after rain is quite subdued in sandy country, much stronger where the soil is fertile and has a higher clay content. It still smells lovely though.
My Favourite out here is the fresh rain washed air. We have had dust for months now and this moisture has washed the air clean. -
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It sounds great...
.... and reminds me -though it is not the same -- of coming across water of any sort in the dry parts of the Middle East --- where all the 'good' words are related to such or to cool, whereas in the cold north, we might use a 'good' word such a 'red-hot'.
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I enjoyed this my friend, put in to rhyme of what's been said, and very well put too!
The fifth stanza (excellent) sort of, 'cleans' away all the dust of bad times.
Regards.
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Because of the extremes of weather conditions we experience there are phenomenal changes when the drought does break, and the dust settles. You are right about that stanza, it makes up for all the bad bits.
Thank you again my friend. It's always a pleasure to have you visit.
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the irony of scorched land prayer for rain upon endless hours cast.. someday the rain will come to water the spirit and drench the sun well said hun always hugs Angel♥
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many thanks Angel. When the rains do come Mother really dresses everything in its finest and it's a picture to behold.
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I know they do hun it is a beautiful place Hugs♥
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Some things are just worth waiting for Bob arn't they. Just a little rain to revive the parched land and voila a feast for the eyes and heart. Lovely write my friend...mal
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You are right Mal. We know that the good times will return again after the bad ones. It's the hope of better things coming that keep us here. In my lifetime that has always been the case. Variety and contrasts keep us guessing. But, even so, there are times when the green of the England I hear about would be a pleasant sight for tired dusty eyes.many thanks for your visit and comments. much appreciated.
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You certainly have a lot of weather there Bob.
Right now it's damn cold here and very ,very wet.
A sou'wester and wellies don't make for glamour!!
But I've got my dogs, so I don't fret.
Great poem and great rhyme.
Lulu
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hello Lulu. Welcome to the inland of Aussie. the poem describes only a few days of hot humid windless weather, today is about 10 degrees cooler, had a nice breeze and the flies have hidden somewhere or other. We do have extremes with hot and cold. However one thing is sure and certain:- it will rain one day and Mother Nature will dress everything in its finest, most gorgeous outfit, and the scenery will be magnificent. It's a pleasure to have you visit and leave a comment, thank you.
Look after those dogs.
Bob
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A wonderful poem Bob.
You describe your part of Aus well.
Great imagery.
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You know Anne, it's not always like this. We had a few days where the day temps were in the 40's, humidity was high, and there was no wind. Today was 10 degrees cooler, with a nice breeze and the flies left for parts unknown. I thank you for visiting and understanding I am writing about my bit of this wide brown land.
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Bob
Creating a vision as fine as this takes talent. So now I get a great look at your country. May the bull find time to flirt again. Perhaps one day I will be lucky enough to see Australia first hand.
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You would be most welcome Bob. The vision changes all the time. The bull was flirting again today. Cooler than yesterday and most of the flies have vanished. They are just waiting for another day when it's hot, humid and windless. thank you for dropping in, next time try to stay a while. there is a spare room you could use.lol
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i love australia, its a country i would love to visit, but i most probably would not be able to leave, this poem reflects the beauty of australia but also hilights the problems with droughts and water shortages, thank you for sharing this amaising poem, terri
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I am very lucky to be born here and have enough common sense to recognise that Mother nature is in charge of this wide brown land. We have sufficient of everything we need and a beautiful landscape that is forever changing. How could one not love it all. Thank you for your visit and comments. Maybe, one day you will visit.
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Wonderful poem Bob!!
The love of your home, no matter what it throws at you, shines through. Well done!
Cherry
xxx
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Cherry, even the flies are friends. Yes, I love this place, warts and all, as the saying goes. Many thanks for dropping in.
Bob
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nice write mate...I like the instances of monorhyme within each stanza...it certainly is a sunburnt country
Cheers
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My Country is whatever you may want. Your choice of climate, weather, scenery, rain or drought is always there. It's just a long way from where you may to where you would like to be. Sunburnt out here at the present time, mate, really sunburnt.
Thanks for your visit my friend, good to see you again.
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Great work Bob! It's always a pleasure to read your work.
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Well penned my friend. Having only had the opportunity to read about Australia, I remain fascinated by the extreme differences in regions and much of the history behind the changes caused by men. The introduction of rabbits many years ago was one such occurrence that took me totally by surprise.
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Australia is a huge island with every climatic condition available somewhere or other. Tropical in the north wonderfully fertile on the coastal fringes where most of the population lives, and dry, harsh and unforgiving in the inland. All of it quite beautiful in its own way.
The rabbit issue is still a bone of contention. 24 rabbits created a plague of millions as time went by. They are still here and still being monitored to prevent another plague of them.
It's a big country and always fascinates me when I'm travelling even though was born and raised here.
many thanks for your visit and comments, always welcome.
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Very nice poem. It made me smile. Great job with the rhyme.
My favorite part is the beginning -
It's stinking hot and the flies are there
No sign of rain anywhere.
Yet up the coast they had rain to spare
Water, water, everywhere.
Keep on writing.Michelle
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It's coming up to summer and in the inland where I am there is a drought and the promise of storms. Flies are a fact of life. It's only about 200 kilometres from here to where there has been 16 inches of rain recently and floods are still subsiding. We have dust. This country has everything at the same time. Strange? No, not really; it's a big country stretching over 2000 miles east to west and not much different north to south. There is room for everything the weather man can forecast.
Thanks for your visit and comments, always welcome and appreciated.
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