ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

BALLET IN THE BUSH

Golden wattle scents the air, it's blossoms froth amongst the boughs,
the waterhole reflects the sky, the silver gums and passing clouds.
A large lace monitor strolls past, by our presence he is not fazed
and all seems right here with the world on this lovely September day.

Above we hear 'keeyew, keeyew' and spot a kestrel flying high
soaring on wings so gracefully , suspended 'gainst the azure sky
and Crows are flying on the wing..with raucous cry, discordant note.
Until they land upon a fresh and stinking carcase full of bloat.

A breeze has caused the shivery grass to shake and tremble, bow and feint,
and stirred a little willy willy, twisting dust towards the gate
where it collapses, disappears and casts the dust and leaves aside
no longer wants to play it seems..I wonder where it's gone to hide?

Along the rutted, dusty track, with all its lethal turns and twists
are Cypress Pines. The track itself festooned with rocks as big as fists.
Across the causeway near the dam a small trickle of water slides.
We need to check that out some time before the whole dam wall subsides.

And as we drive into the camp we see beside the donga there
two juvenile emus head out, quite unconcerned, showing no care.
Still baby plumage they display, two soft and fluffy feather balls.
Hurrying onto stage like ballerinas late for curtain call.

With tutus in soft autumn hues of cream and brown and softest gray
they look so sweet running the track. ' Go straight ahead the stage's this way.
No use now darting to the wings we have the audience enthralled
So pirouette and entrechat' ... two emu's await natures call.

Too soon they exit off - stage left...the track is empty once again
and we continue on our way looking for words that would explain
how beautiful we found the sight of our emus and their display
our spirits were uplifted by Nature and the Emu Ballet.

We paused a moment just to take in all this beauty close at hand
the lengthening of shadows 'cross the scrub, noisy Corella's band.
And then down by the dam we saw our two emus both with heads down
Responding to applause no doubt..they bowed gracefully, sank to ground.

A fluff of feathers, flutter flutter...like the Dying Swan they sunk
to rest beside the reed filled dam whose waters they had before drunk
No doubt quite thirsty from exertion and their run along the track
we left them peacefully together... they'll be there next time we're back.

Maureen Clifford ©

"Thank you" Maureen.

I feel I was nearby.
Jim.

Love it Maureen. A lot of rich detail. It's interesting how you made the emus into tutus Les Murray , in one of his poems, called The Emu, made it a beatle haircut with a periscope .

In stanza 5 line 1, what's a donga ? We had a bloke at work who had the nickname donga, but I don't think it was complimentary

Thank you Jim and Neville

Our Donga Neville was an ex portable real estate office - One big room with a smallish area for a kitchenette and a small room for a toilet and washbasin we picked it up for around $1000 which was incredibly cheap and installed it alongside a 24 caravan under a bush shelter of corrugated iron roof and sapling bearers which was our outdoor kitchen complete with old Kooka wood stove, Kerosine fridge and in one corner our shower. It was pretty luxurious all things considered

http://www.modularvillages.com/donga

Spot on Maureen wonderfully written.


I've stayed in many a Donga in my time whilst outfitting supermarkets in the mining towns, they were comfortable but not much else. SPQ Single Persons Quarters they were called in the days where the mines would try to house all the married workers in homes.

To pass the time i can still recall playing roll the coin where everyone ( After a few beers of course ) would try to roll a 20 cent coin the closest to a wall winner take all.


Bob

Donga was often used out back saying a place where you lived but I have often heard it stated away out there in the donga refering to out on the plains there are several slang words that have dual meanings

Bill the old battler

Yeah Bill, I always remember 'donga' being the bush or scrub when I lived down south, I didn't really know it as a portable living quarters until I moved to the Territory and probably more so when I got involved in the mining industry, seems to be pretty much a standard word for portable living quarters now though.

Great poem Maureen, I like the description of the young emus!

That's a lovely scene you paint Maureen.

Heather

Paint I caint see no painting ???/ It is a poem isn't it ?


Bob

Get with the program Bob! It's a painting in words you old silly...

Heather