Homework Feb 2025 'Either Side Of Paradise'

[Terry]

Either Side of Paradise

I am patiently awaiting, for the heat to start abating
and I’m thinking of those Aussies facing raging floods again.
While I’m sweating here and cursing over there the skies are bursting,
bringing record downpours there in days and weeks of nonstop rain.

I imagine rainstorms looming, hear the rolling thunder booming,
as they ready for the next downpour to flood their towns once more.
And with skies alive with lightning, for the kids it must be frightening,
but those people there are hardy souls and that’s for flaming sure.

And to them it’s not surprising that the rivers are now rising,
for they flow the way they always have when heavy rains about.
And with floods again now creeping while the countryside is sleeping,
there’ll be heartache in the morning and more houses to bail out.

While now over here we swelter – hearing of that helter skelter
of them dodging sudden downpours, that would be a welcomed gift,
for their frazzled western brothers, sisters’ cousins and all others,
as we stare at cloudless skies and pray this heatwave will soon lift.
******
© T.E. Piggott

[Ron]

Good one Terry,
You nailed it with the extremes of the weather in our beautiful land! And certainly showed both sides of the coin/country!
Certainly feel for the poor people up North, and there'll be a lot there that the insurance companies don't want to know!
We're fortunate where we are here, not having floods, but they suffer them down on the Hawkesbury/Nepean River system on the plains. But then we cop the bushfires.
Droughts and flooding rains for sure mate!
Cheers
Ron.

[Terry]

Thanks Ron

I guess that's Australia all over isn't it.
Floods somewhere severe heatwave and drought elsewhere.
We have had it very hot over here with many days over 40deg.

Cheer Ron

Terry

[Catherine Lee]

Excellent poem with your trademark imagery, Terry. You paint such a clear picture of these extremes, and that's a great title! x

[Maureen K Clifford]

I love the title as well and right now seeing the rivers rise here as the incessant drownpours continue....no surprises there I suppose

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this Terry and as always up to your high standard of writing. Well crafted

[Terry]

Thanks Catherine & Maureen

Had a bit of trouble posting for a while but all seems back to normal now.

Terry