My Macks

[Terry Cutting]

My Macks

© Terry Cutting 2008

Just north of town is “Macks Reserve.” Macquarie River bank
Here Drovers rest their weary mobs, the water’s never rank
A stock route from the old days of the big mobs passes by
The grass is often green and thick and sometimes kind of high

The “Macks” itself is fairly new “The Three Mile” was its name
Was named for distance out the route from far and wide they came
For every river town has one, and sometimes many more
They catch up any walked off fat and maybe add some more

The mud caked flats have all gone now, washed clean by summer rain
But in good time the river’s flow will visit once again.
With water comes a new life force, new riches all around
On any day along these banks fresh wonders can be found

The good years see a flourish, grasses high and grasses sweet
Stock only need the water and to rest their tired feet
These mobs they take their time and tend to eat their way along
The drover sets up camp then rests and sings his lonely song

My dogs come too, they love to swim and chase what they may find.
I walk the tree lined grassy banks wherever they may wind
There’s always time to chase a stick, some time to just run free
Or take a rest, enjoy the view, it’s so good to be me

I come here for the peacefulness where life’s not hard or tough
The power lines remind me even here’s not far enough
With beauty always changing, always interesting and new
Too many lonely people, lonely places all too few

The birds and flowers the butterflies are wonders to be seen
The branches dance with pebbles and the sunlight makes them gleam
While Willows kiss the water in the flowing stream below
It’s hard for me, I linger then I turn my back and go

A mighty river sentinel grasps life with just a claw
The floods and wind eroding its small place upon this shore
Here life is often shorter out along the flood plain wall
In time this tree will loose its grasp, will loose its grasp and fall

The children come to laugh and play my dogs join in the game
Just by themselves or with the kids to them it’s all the same
They splash and swim and muck about as is a child’s way
I call them and they follow, just like any other day

The spider in its golden web, the lizard on a log
The air is full of bush smoke like a bluish kind of fog
Echidna in the grassland and a dragon taking flight
A lone Duck on a river snag surveys the waning light.

The scraggy track along the bank is overgrown and slow.
We’ve had some rain, there’s lots of grass and ample river flow
The irrigators pumps lay quiet, no need for water now
But that will change the season’s near they’ll soon begin to plough

A cockatoo looks down upon the river flowing by
She’s standing guard upon her nest, her castle in the sky
She sees me, gives a loud alarm and flourishes her comb
I smile and think out loud “don’t fear” I’m no threat to your home

The half moon in the evening sky keeps watch while it’s still light
And birds take time to groom and rest till they resume their flight
The old and disused cow pad on its long march up the hill
My old ute waiting patiently till I have had my fill

The flowers in the glade a mass of green and purple hues
It’s really kind of pretty here, a shame that it’s no use
This curse a man named Petterson bestowed upon us all
When springtime comes it shoots right up, so purple and so tall.

I stop to watch the dragon flies skip daintily then perch
They have a favorite rock you know, and then resume their search
Must find a mate before the sun has settled for the night
The dark has many dangers might not see the morning light

The logs and snags lie scattered in the slowly flowing stream
At bends and straights they gather sometimes many can be seen
The're placed there not so gently by the water at its height
Just another small reminder of the river’s awesome might

The evening calls the shadows joining banks held part’ by day
The morning sun will warm them and their hold is swept away
With darkness ever closer I must work my way back home
Tomorrow I’ll be back and set my spirit free to roam

I ‘m oh so very fortunate I have this place to be
I’ve no real need of fortune or successful company
The world has many places full of trouble, full of strife
My “Macks Reserve” is always here, my strainer post in life.

end

[LongMan]

G'day Terry,

Epic work. What can I say but congrats.

PHIL

[Maureen K Clifford]

Love that last line Terry its a classic - some great descriptions and rhymes in here as well - enjoyed the read very much

Typo you might want to fix here s/b They're

Their placed there not so gently by the water at its height

Verse 3 line 3 where you have used new twice perhaps replace one with green. I had thought perhaps fresh but see you used that in line 4 - just a thought
Achidna s/b Echidna and s/b Paterson's Curse Just trying to help you understand I'm not picking or being petty son

Cheers

Maureen

[Rimeriter]

"Bloody beauty" Terry.
Jim.

[Glenny Palmer]

Bonza Terry!! I love that 'my strainer post in life.'
...it would make a great title?

Go well old mate.
Cheeers
Glenny