STALEMATE

[Maureen K Clifford]

STALEMATE … Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet

The top of the mountain glowed a fiery red
thick smoke billowed high in the air
and flocks of bright birds flew with chatter and squawk
high above the treeline and if they could talk
they would tell off the mayhem below. The black hawk
merely feasted on insects escaping.

The red dragon roared stuffing trees in his maw,
he destroyed, devoured and plundered
Above like huge insects with big rotors whirling
flew huge helicopters with water unfurling
in plumes of white wetness, to the scorched earth curling
to quench the dragons hot breath. Slaking.

Between flood and fire and steamy summer heat
the country was suffering bad.
A handful of dreams now for many were lost
as once more this country would stand – count the cost
and run with the cards Mother Nature had tossed
with the promise that none were forsaken.

It is time to change to say ‘out with the old
ideas and thoughts that aren’t working.’
We’ve found to our cost that the green belts we’ve saved
become conflagrations that then must be braved
and we know that fierce floods and bushfires don’t behave.
Seems our management skills are mistaken.

We can run on the spot or stay just marking time
and continue to fight every year
to save lives and houses and harvest and stock,
our precious wildlife or the graziers flock
or we sit and make a plan – we’re under the clock,
if we fail , then again all is taken
by the Mother whose ire we’ve awakened.

[Terry]

It's the lunatics who run around lighting many them for fun that need sorting out.

It's bad enough with what nature dishes out without adding to the problem.

Terry

[alongtimegone]

So good Maureen ... loved your rhyme scheme. It's a tragedy too often. I could not build and live in those areas as beautiful as they may be when all is right.
Wazza

[Neville Briggs]

Well done Maureen. ( I seem to remember this one from an earlier post )

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks Wazza

Not this one Neville - I just wrote it yesterday

[Heather]

Neville's clever like that Maureen!

[Neville Briggs]

You've used the red dragon metaphor before in a bushfire piece. ??

Thanks Heather. we need an emoticon with tongue poking out. nyaaa

[Maureen K Clifford]

I did indeed Neville - Dragons blood - last bushfire season