WATER WATER EVERYWHERE

[Maureen K Clifford]

It seems a few of us are a bit soggy underfoot and I bet you don't really know why that is apart from the obvious answer water. But it appears it all comes down to the telling of a good yarn - I wonder what it was??


WATER WATER EVERYWHERE



Deep set brown eyes peered from beneath the black shade of his Akubra.
He stood with one foot resting on his other knee, his face a mask of inscrutability
as he idly shooed a fly with the nonchalant Aussie salute that all bushies use.
He gazed across the shimmering expanse of water that only recently had been salt pans.
It was still white, but now the white was Pelicans and Gulls – thousands of them.
Maybe millions. Were the numbers ever chronicled? He thought not.

Lake Eyre stretched for miles, its edge blending with the horizon. A giant mirage,
except this time it wasn’t, it was real. He felt his countries lifeblood move.
Sluggish for so long, now it stirred, and the marsh frogs called again.
Tiddalik had been thirsty and had drunk all the water from the lake
selfishly causing the other animals and plants to die
but the wise old Wombat and Nabunum the eel made Tiddalik laugh and release the water.

It was a story from the Dreamtime, one his Grandfather had told him
and one he now told to the piccaninnies around the campfires at night.
The water now stretched for thousands of miles across three states.

It must have been a good joke.

Maureen Clifford © 12/10



http://www.wrightsair.com.au/floodwaternews.htm

[David J Delaney]

Love dreamtime stories Maureen & I remember this one from somewhere, might have been my Brother-in-laws "Uncle", 2 of my other favorites are the Ooyan man (Curlew) & Wayamba (turtle)

[Maureen K Clifford]

Me to Dave and with all the frogs croaking around my place and no doubt Leonies at present Tiddalik sprang to mind - plus I got those beaut photos sent to me of Lake Eyre and the inland in full flood mode.
Bloody spectacular isn't it.

Cheers

Maureen

[Leonie]

Yep, there's a resident frog in every downpipe, and their croaking is suitable amplified, noisy buggers.

Is Lake Eyre full at the moment?

[Maureen K Clifford]

No Leonie she is drying out again now I think last month she had about 70% but that is dwindling fast - so if you missed you - well you missed it , but they are hopeful that she may fill again next year

Cheers

Maureen