The Trees

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In_Forests_#01

Dandenong Ranges, Victoria.

Summer’s end

Knight’s Road view, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.

Winton swamplands

Autumn swamplands landscape, Winton, Victoria.

Trouble

Dusk at the drop off, Mt Wombat, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
I was loitering on the corner after friends had dropped me there
I didn’t go nowhere because I was scared
I felt it coming a fright and a fear
as if it was my last year

and when it finally fell upon me the anticipated dread
I wished I had stayed at home in my warm and cosy bed
the devil in his black coat to me he came and said
I’m gonna frame you

I looked around but I couldn’t see anything of a crime
I waited there longer I waited some extra time
there was nothing to give me a clue no flashing sign
that my whole world was a turning

when she pulled up in her long bright shiny yellow hearse
I avoided her stare as if it was a curse
but eventually she prevailed with a promise to reimburse
me for my trouble

we drove to the mountain right to the very top
when we got there she made the hearse come to a stop
right at the edge by a long steep drop
I exclaimed I was scared of heights

she got out of the car came round and opened my door
I didn’t see her coming cos I was looking at the floor
she pulled me out with the strength of two or three or four
and dumped me on the dirt by the barriers

I struggled as she prepared to throw me into the abyss
but then she bent to give me my first Judas kiss
I knew what was coming so I ducked and she missed
I pushed her in the chest
and she swayed backwards

little did I know that she would unbalance then
I watched her teetering on the edge until when
she fell to her death
just as god sent
me a message

he said to get out of there because things weren't looking pretty
I didn’t need no message I as tore across the city
my mind was in turmoil full of self pity
I found a little hideaway a little dirty a little gritty
and laid low until things blew over

ever since that day I’ve been creeping around the town
all nervous and alone again I’ve been going round
worried the cops would do me over and when I would be found
but my life became fortunate and stable

the lord moves in mysterious ways around my little hangout
but in my mind there really is no skerrick of a doubt
he saved me twice from death and the devil without
my ever understanding anyways how or about
I ever got to be in so much trouble

Alpacas

Alpacas, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
I looked at you
you looked at me
I looked back again
I sensed that you were asking if I was your friend?
without Alpaca words to say so, I decided to move on
I enjoyed our time together but there were other things to be done

Last days of summer

Plenty Gorge, Victoria.
It's the last days of summer 
and the water still looks great
for the last days of swimming
before the hot weather fades

Rain

Storm over Euroa, Victoria.
It is so hot I can barely stand it
they say this is the future come early
I can’t stand the idea of the future coming early
how is that possible?
surely the future has to come when it is due and not before
in its own good time if you will
but the future has come early and I am so fucking hot I feel like I am cooking
I feel like everything I touch is either a hot plate or cooking on one
I feel like the sweat I am dripping is not sweat it is boiling water
and I want to scold the future for coming early because I don’t know what that means but here it is in the present and there is no relief from it

I want to get a big soaking brush and watercolour the sun from the sky
I want to replace it with pile upon pile of towering thick grey cumulonimbus
heavy with precipitation weighty blackening the sky and ready to dump
I just want it to rain
big fat wet drops that land with a splat and each single drop soaks everything it hits
rain so thick if you try to run away from it you just get wetter and wetter
it simply hits you harder and reaches deeper into your soul
I so want to run in that rain

all I think about is getting away from this fiery dry heat by getting all soaking wet
cooling until I shiver to my core with cold relief
to a place where I can confront the profound desolation this false future brings
the rain will put the future back in its place
take its toll on this deceitful future of scorching isolation divergent from its proper path
giving me a new wet future where I can cool off for a while
where I can relax and think about other things

I would lap up the true future
the moist green rain dominated future
it’s not like I don’t want any heat
it should just be intermittent again, when and where it is meant to be
I want us to all have a right future properly in its place
making it easy to breathe without fire in your lungs
wet enough to have us splashing wildly outside free from fear
rejoicing in the joy of life and secure in what is to come
I want everyone to dance with me in the rain
shake off this febrile oppression
and share my love in the rain

Tableland walking

Boundary Hill Road, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
Walking Boundary Hill Road in dappled sun
from the Mannas and Blue Gums lining the run
the trees are magnificent and so is the landscape
when you are walking here the feeling is great

Photography days #30.

East

Lake Hume, Tallangatta, Victoria.
A vivid sun rose from the east
it offered me a good day
my withered body sought solace
in what was promised in that way
I rose to greet and meet the sun
looking forward to its promise
my creaking bones and stiffened joints arose
with only a little grimace
I followed the sun throughout the day
from sunroom to verandah
seeking light absorbing heat
with more vigour and more candour
no pain relief was necessary as the day progressed
I calmly bathed in soaking sun
therapy at its best
I gave thanks for another day
of appreciating the sun
its warmth and illumination of the world
was delightful to this one
as sick as I may be
every coming day
I return to partial health
as the sun rays
wash themselves over me
with their golden wealth
and so the night too
looks a little less grim
as the suns light fades and the evening chill
slowly settles in
I wrap myself in a blanket
I sip hot tea and sit
by a warming fire never the sun
but I take what I can get
as the aches return the cramps begin
I look forward to tomorrow
and to the east I’ll turn my gaze
hoping for a little more sun to borrow

Poetry Days #31.

14 Yarra views

Melbourne’s Yarra River and embankment can be busy places. I have published some of these photos before, but thought this group made a nice new set.

It's the river that binds
Melbourne's spreading towers
to the city
and when the weather is good
it looks oh so pretty!

Photography days #26.

A springtime view from Boundary Hill

View from Boundary Hill, Strathbogie Tableland, Victoria.
Bucolic scenes
the stuff of dreams
where farmland meets
bushland seats

Photography days #21.

Spin

Desertification in the Mallee, Victoria.
I never stopped the world
the world it never stopped me
until the day I forgot to pay
homage to nature’s way

the time I wrecked the world
was the time the world wrecked me
my influence and consequence
heated it by degrees

oh it kept spinning assuredly
you might claim there was no problem
but on the surface I
directed its death and then some

I am man,
I said I can.
What am I bid?
So, I did

Poetry days #18.

Wheat

Wheat crop Nagambie, Victoria.
Millions of hectares and more
under the scorching sun
the ripening crop a massive store
of protein again begun
drying off yellowing
all one plant just one
finally ready for harvesting
ton after ton after ton

wheat rain heat
rain heat wheat
repeat

Poetry days #19.

The Balconies

The Balconies in The Grampians, Victoria.
This ancient place
of an ancient race
is nature's gallery
viewed from a balcony

Photography days #16

Dew

Strathbogie sunrise
I accept the dew of early morn as through golden hour I walk
the brittle sun of dawn is come
to break on every dewy stem and stalk
an ascending wave it pushes away nights waning mantle of grey
seeking out each shaded hollow where the sprites of night still play

as my feet dampen and my spirits rise with every step I take
i feel the joy inside of me stir peacefully to fully awake
the first touch of warmth upon my skin bodes well for another day
i turn my face to far horizon where sun breaks cover with glorious rays

vivid pinks and yellows dress the sky in resplendent heavenly garb
the first full shafts of light to pierce the dew delight with rainbowed prisms and shards
they brush the earth with tantalising grace promise of the day to come
I consider that prospect as I return to the place where I came from

my home upon the hill does beckon lit in tones of gold
breakfast awaits and children’s smiles call me back to the fold
as I return in new light I reflect on mornings journey through rising mist
toward embracing tasks ahead, now worry off my list
as mornings clarity prepares me for the next path
I am to tread
this moment of pure atmosphere also readies me
I am dewly led

Poetry days #12.

Snowline

Above the snowlike looking toward the Paps, Timbertop, Victoria.
for the clearest view
here's what to do
climb the highest mountain
to just above the snowline
where the trees fade away
on a clear blue day

Photography days #10.

Mountain man

Cathedral Range, Victoria
Of the mountains 
of the peaks
of the hills and valleys steep

I the mountain
man of woodland
keep my forest keep

in the rivers
in the lakes
in the waters deep

I bathe and water
fish for supper
pull my oars asweep

i am a hunter
and life preserver
at loss in grief I weep

at end of day
abed I lay
to drop to restful sleep

Poetry days #07.

Wetlands watching

Birding at Winton Wetlands
we look this way
we look that
we raise our binoculars
we have a chat
we love the birds
everywhere we see
delightful birds
we watch with glee

Sunshine v breeze

Incoming summer rain, Boho South

Bournda National Park walking

For the full map and description I have published on Victoria Walks’ walking maps click here: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/5755

Photography days #04. All work is my own. I do not use AI.

Strathbogie Ranges tracks and trails #01

Walking the Strathbogie Ranges has many rewards. The landscapes, waterways and native flora are simply beautiful.

A gallery of 10 images. To see the full photos click an image, then use the arrows to scroll.