ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

A MOMENT IN TIME



I noticed in the silver grass a darker tracery
of footprints, paw prints, in the dew – and they belonged to me.
Remaining evidence of the small walk we took this morning
for a little doggy physio just as the day was dawning.

I hear the magpie in the tree singing his morning song
with harmonies by top knot pigeons. Small birds joining the throng
of feathered flighty avians that cluster round the seeds
and the water bowl – A bird feeder caters to all their needs.

A huge mug of morning coffee warms hands that are cold as ice,
winter has barely yet arrived – autumn gone in a trice.
The morning sun will soon reach out its rays to where I sit
doing nothing but observing – which I do…..well quite a bit.

If you sit quietly letting all your senses into play
you will be amazed at what you rediscover every day.
How two mating butterflies both fly in perfect harmony
side by side, mimicking every turn – a ballet just for me.

The little wren, so mousy brown and small, flutters and darts
‘cross the lawn in search of morsels for her chicks..which she imparts
to those little gaping, hungry beaks and then flies like an arrow
to find more. Blue breasted hubby’s busy arguing with sparrow.

A little gecko ventures forth from beams above my head
and scurries down verandah posts to where a moth is dead
beneath a light – last night he fried and now lies stiff and cold
but the gecko sees a feast afoot – survival mood all told.

The pale pearlescent petals of the rose are draped in dew
and beneath I note a silvery trail – a native snail, one who
I do not enjoy destroying so I’ll just move him away
to another spot where he won’t mar the roses sweet display.

I really should get up and move my stumps and do some work
but there’s none here who will criticize watching this old girl shirk
morning duties – for there is I hope for me always tomorrow
but the butterflies will be gone then – and it’s only time I borrow.

Take time to smell the roses – have you heard that phrase before?
It’s quoted often round the traps a metaphor for sure
signifying one should take more time – enjoying life and beauty
and for once I’m taking my advice – it’s my God given duty.

Maureen Clifford 05/11 ©

Lovely Maureen. There's lots to observe if you take the time too stop and look.

Heather

I think ya got grubs in ya Gerbera's and you need to spray for those bloody blue butterflys dammed pests.



Agent Orange Bob

Hey Bob just found out these are Blue Triangle butterflies not as exotic or rare as yours but pretty nonetheless, have discovered that this mating pair laid eggs on my geraniums and now my geraniums have been eaten away by the little grub butterfly babies?? I presume that is what these tiny little caterpillar things are...anyway I am not spraying because the butterflies are beautiful and the geraniums will recover.

I had the biggest most beautiful butterfly I have ever seen laying eggs on the fruit trees in our backyard. It was as big as a small bird, bigger even, and damn it I forgot all about it until I read your poem (must have missed it earlier) and Alan has been spraying the fruit. Oh well, the lemon tree escaped the spray because it hasn't fruited this year, so there is still hope that a few butterfly babies have survived.

I wish I had got a photo of this one. It was like black velvet with spots of colour on the wings and a sort of border around the edges, beautiful thing. I think it's a fairly common butterfly but this one was huge.

Yep whats a few geranium leaves amongst friends Maureen.

That the track I would have taken as well

Bob