As I stepped out this morning...
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 5:47 am
As I stepped out this morning…
As I stepped out this morning, the stars were still aligned.
The heavens gave no clue a new prime minister’d been signed.
The birds were singing brightly, with their usual elation.
They gave no outward signs that any change had swept the nation.
The little creek was burbling. The wind was in the trees.
I heard no word of rising rates, no fear of fiscal squeeze.
The sun was not late rising, nor did it bob up early.
The parliament made not a dent on Nature’s hurly burly.
The wallaby went absentee. I doubt the wombat voted.
I heard a lot of creatures there, and not one brayed or gloated.
They didn’t read the paper, and they didn’t watch the tele.
They’d just one wish – an ample dish of breakfast for their belly.
They didn’t hand out voting cards. They didn’t advertise.
Does this make them very foolish? Does this make them very wise?
Does it mean they’re just indifferent to current voting trends?
Does it mean they never give much thought to either means or ends?
They want to eat. They want to sleep. They want to find a mate,
For in the forest darkness prices never escalate.
But the forest rim is shrinking, and the price is rising steeply
For a hollow tree or patch of grass. They now do not come cheaply.
Koala should awaken and start marching in the street,
That Canberra should echo to a thousand padded feet.
The frogs should all join focus groups, and trade their preferences.
The magpies and the crows should all stop sitting on the fences.
It needn’t be too taxing. They can vote ‘above the line’
For extensive native planting and the cutting down of pine;
For the cleansing of the atmosphere, the ridding of pollution.
It’s time to start preparing for the double dissolution,
And if the senate fills with forest beasts, with horse and cow…
It will be a great improvement on the one we’re stuck with now!
© Stephen Whiteside 10.09.2013
As I stepped out this morning, the stars were still aligned.
The heavens gave no clue a new prime minister’d been signed.
The birds were singing brightly, with their usual elation.
They gave no outward signs that any change had swept the nation.
The little creek was burbling. The wind was in the trees.
I heard no word of rising rates, no fear of fiscal squeeze.
The sun was not late rising, nor did it bob up early.
The parliament made not a dent on Nature’s hurly burly.
The wallaby went absentee. I doubt the wombat voted.
I heard a lot of creatures there, and not one brayed or gloated.
They didn’t read the paper, and they didn’t watch the tele.
They’d just one wish – an ample dish of breakfast for their belly.
They didn’t hand out voting cards. They didn’t advertise.
Does this make them very foolish? Does this make them very wise?
Does it mean they’re just indifferent to current voting trends?
Does it mean they never give much thought to either means or ends?
They want to eat. They want to sleep. They want to find a mate,
For in the forest darkness prices never escalate.
But the forest rim is shrinking, and the price is rising steeply
For a hollow tree or patch of grass. They now do not come cheaply.
Koala should awaken and start marching in the street,
That Canberra should echo to a thousand padded feet.
The frogs should all join focus groups, and trade their preferences.
The magpies and the crows should all stop sitting on the fences.
It needn’t be too taxing. They can vote ‘above the line’
For extensive native planting and the cutting down of pine;
For the cleansing of the atmosphere, the ridding of pollution.
It’s time to start preparing for the double dissolution,
And if the senate fills with forest beasts, with horse and cow…
It will be a great improvement on the one we’re stuck with now!
© Stephen Whiteside 10.09.2013
