the outback
the outback starts here
I am half way to my destination
the bustling city is left far behind
crowded suburbs gave way to gentle vineyards
rivers were crossed as the road wound through the valley
on either side green pastures and tall trees
a gentle sun cast pale shadows through the gauzy clouds
lush green gave way to dry yellow paddocks
straggly gum trees plotted the dry watercourse
now in the outback drivers wave a friendly gesture
pitted against the immensity of this landscape
banding together with others of their kind
a wildlife warning by the side of the road
only emus crossing in their ungainly ballet
the kangaroos are noisome bodies on the gravel
or bleached bones stripped bare by hungry birds
the magnificent wedgetail has no crags to clasp
only the rotting body of his long dead prey
heavy with food he drags his weight into the sky
to avoid the thunderbolt of my onrushing car
the giant lizard takes too long to cross the hot bitumen
yet another victim of civilisation's haste
mirages spill pools of liquid on the road
reflecting the road trains in their shining surfaces
the road stretches out towards the pale sky
low scrubby bushes in shades of green and grey
gentle purple hills like sleeping animals create contrasts
wildflowers of white and yellow and lilac
dapple the edges of the highway with their colour
lakes swollen by last summer's cyclonic rains
that made the road impassable to traffic
now blaze white with salt after a dry winter
a family of brown cattle stand on the road
reluctant and curious even with my horn sounding
only when I pull alongside do they turn and wander to the verge
for a moment I feel as if they will turn back
to examine this loud intrusive monster
and soon I arrive at my destination
a town that shelters me and gives me work
in the outback
I am half way to my destination
the bustling city is left far behind
crowded suburbs gave way to gentle vineyards
rivers were crossed as the road wound through the valley
on either side green pastures and tall trees
a gentle sun cast pale shadows through the gauzy clouds
lush green gave way to dry yellow paddocks
straggly gum trees plotted the dry watercourse
now in the outback drivers wave a friendly gesture
pitted against the immensity of this landscape
banding together with others of their kind
a wildlife warning by the side of the road
only emus crossing in their ungainly ballet
the kangaroos are noisome bodies on the gravel
or bleached bones stripped bare by hungry birds
the magnificent wedgetail has no crags to clasp
only the rotting body of his long dead prey
heavy with food he drags his weight into the sky
to avoid the thunderbolt of my onrushing car
the giant lizard takes too long to cross the hot bitumen
yet another victim of civilisation's haste
mirages spill pools of liquid on the road
reflecting the road trains in their shining surfaces
the road stretches out towards the pale sky
low scrubby bushes in shades of green and grey
gentle purple hills like sleeping animals create contrasts
wildflowers of white and yellow and lilac
dapple the edges of the highway with their colour
lakes swollen by last summer's cyclonic rains
that made the road impassable to traffic
now blaze white with salt after a dry winter
a family of brown cattle stand on the road
reluctant and curious even with my horn sounding
only when I pull alongside do they turn and wander to the verge
for a moment I feel as if they will turn back
to examine this loud intrusive monster
and soon I arrive at my destination
a town that shelters me and gives me work
in the outback