ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Used to love going to sleep in the bush at Dilladerri serenaded by these little blokes. You can hear it here although this was one of my earlier efforts and it is a tad hissy

http://pool.abc.net.au/media/playing-banjo-pool


POBBLE BONKING


Out past the first dam, just near the low hill
where the gums cast their shadows, and evenings are still
‘mongst the reeds and the rushes a sound can be heard
Bonk, plonk ,bonk,plonk - is it frog or a bird?

His voice so insistent it echoes around
like a star picket being hammered into ground,
the evening concert is all he'll attend,
my little star picket hammering friend.

I think technically he’s a Pobblebonk frog,
who hides in the mud or beneath a damp log,
where he feasts on the insects and grubs that abound
and hides very quickly if man comes around.

Some say Eastern Banjo is really his name
and like Banjo Paterson his claim to fame,
are his faithful renditions, delivered with spunk.
of a loud and explosive and resonant bonk.

At night when you’re drifting to sleep in the bush
you can hear my small mate in the night’s silent hush
calling to his mates in a demanding tone
‘I’m out here and bonking and I’m all alone.’

But soon the dark night’s serenaded with song.
There must be a hundred frogs bonking along.
And one hears an occasional sqwaaaaak as a snake
passes by and takes a frog as his dinner mate.

So just listen quietly, relax, close your eyes,
and be serenaded till morning’s sunrise.
As you drift off to sleep to the cacophony
of Pobblebonks bonking wherever they be.


Maureen Clifford ©

if you want to hear my little star picket hammering friend you can hear him on this link

http://frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/disp ... frog_id=44

G'day Maureen,

I went on a Google hunt and have identified the frog that has been attracted to my pond as a Striped Marsh Frog. He's a biggie being about 10cm from nose to tail. (not measuring the legs). His call is just like a drop of water. I thought we had a leak in the roof when he first came calling. He is persistent "clock, clock, clock...."

I have at least five big fat black tadpoles about the size of my thumbnail, still swimming round in the pond. They eat lettuce and any other green leaves that happen to droop into the water. I don't think they have legs yet. I am keeping daily watch.

I like that one Maureen. I think it's got a good lively style that is " catchy " and entertaining.

Thank you Neville and Zondrae - glad you enjoyed it. The call of the Pobblebonk sounds just like somebody hammering in star pickets to me

Cheers

Maureen

We used to have an English bloke at work who was known as Peter Pobbles, supposedly called after a character in an English paper The Beano.