ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

G'day all,

Here is a something I wrote which I'm having difficulties with. Seems, I've lost my ability to rhyme for the moment. Maybe other things on my mind...you know how that goes....This is about my home which is dear to me ; Australia. I miss very much. This is written in my graffiti style........."just to go for it" - as they say. Its different to others I've written and posted here. Constructive comments always welcome...

Understand My Southern Land

A great island this Southern land
Distant form all as the old world stands
Which now clearly must understand
An island beauty isolated from all
Between the Pacific and Indian oceans
Often traversed by explorer men,
in crafts of wood crewed by multi-nations

Past ships of iron clad wood sailed
Fighting seas and great winds a canvas torn
A small bark lands on its eastern shores,
hulled, damaged by prolific ocean storms
Its ships Captains brilliant and bold
great explorer known to many a English men
Opens the world to a new southern wonderland land

Rugged cliffs shaft vertical to rise
Sheared by broad skies of brilliant blue
Jagged oyster rocks, forever soaked cruelly pounded,
by massive waves of frozen arctic southern currents
Beaches golden of long crystal sands,
bleached white from sun always skirts this island
Many great expansive beaches ring this great coast
Warm greetings to many travelers from far off shores

Silent coves shelter homes and locals within
Natures mere beauty of fabled abundance
This land is noble, vast and adventurous
Bold adventurers all welcomed to our sundance
Yet southern breeze brings thunderous clouds
Sudden waves arrive unannounced
Tempest seas fools, beware it can quickly trounce


Great plains of grasses span,
past the rugged great divides
Dark clouds bring Lightning strikes
Fires rage from tall trees of eucalyptus
Animals must flee, kangaroos, emus all marsupials
Evening skies glow a fire bright in orange
A warm night full of flying white embers
Horrid blackness strikes, scars the all
This land remembers

New rains fall
With cooling winds
now new life must begin
In time those fires seem no sin
Natures always very unremarkable
My Great Southern land this gift,
for all of man who understand my land.

© By PHILIP ANTHONY

Thanks for reading my poem it is much appreciated.

"Thanks" Philip.
As you mention, needs some work.
I, as you do, have a passion for my country.

this bloody country.

I love this bloody country,
she's runnin' in my veins.
Her trials, her tribulations,
her sorrows, aches, her pains.

(c). Rimeriter. circa 2000.