Tableland Talk March 2025
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Tag Archives: Strathbogie Tableland
Alpacas
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
Follow the sun
Mt Wombat, Victoria.
Said she I’ll follow the sun
and when the following is done
I will have my release
Said he I’ll wait for you
and when the waiting is done
together we’ll find peace
She followed the sun
and followed the sun
never finding the end of her quest
He watched the horizon
every day of the week
every evening again dispossessed
The sun never shirked
its purpose lighting the day
rising and setting as it should
This man and this woman
staked their futures on the sun
but it’s purpose they never understood
Tableland Talk February 2025
Polly McQuinn’s
Let’s go for a picnic and a swim at Polly McQuinn’s
we’ll pack a basket of food and some cold drinks
I’ll get the picnic rug and the Esky
we can spread out on this long hot lazy afternoon
under the tall peppermints and swamp gums
by the cool soothing brown water of the swimming hole
we can lounge in the shade all day if we want too
maybe you will want to take some sun in your bathers for a spell
before a refreshing plunge into that oasis below the weir
I’ll watch you, admire and love you the whole while
I’ll reflect on where we are going and where we have been
I will even venture in for a swim with you
because this moment in this water will change everything
when I meet you in the slow eddies
embrace you forehead to forehead nose to nose shoulder to shoulder chest to chest hip to hip
our legs gently treading water together
rotating us blissfully so full of each other we could burst
I will tell you I want to marry you
I will ask you to marry me
and I will softly kiss the earthy water from your lips until I hear your reply
Cloudy
Sunrise and the clouds are silver, gold, pink or the brightest of whites
they promise new beginnings and I believe them
I say goodbye to the night
and the day is full of all that might be
sun fringed clouds speak of good fortune and hope
when I raise my eyes to see them things start looking up
silver linings
dark clouds rising are mysterious and foreboding
what danger is imminent?
how will it affect me?
I become watchful
ah, today black clouds shadow my father's angry face
it’s time to make myself scarce
there is no doubt about the turbulence ahead
for mother and me it’s time to flee the storm to come
I am grateful
the clouds have lifted from our little home
the windows and doors are open
fresh air has once again surged through and purged too
my little window looks to the sky
there are omens in the various shapes passing by
I watch them, they guide me
to more thoughts of what is to come by and by
Bejewelled
Here jewell like beads of water hang from grassy stems
the crystal clear worlds inside each reflect a world less clear on the outside
shiny bright surfaces glisten and sparkle with the captured light of morning
here in perfect symmetry each luminous pearl is delicately balanced
suspended flawless and oblivious of the future
pulled by gravity against the surface tension of a liquid sphere
each represents one of millions or billions across this mist dusted field
here a landscape is bejewelled
a scene elemental as the water of which it is composed
rich as every jewel that composes it
here natural beauty on a tiny scale is the very essence of pleasure en masse
still life in the bush
sometimes an image strikes you
before you even take it
still life in the bush
make it!
Photography days #32.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Tableland walking
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.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
blue-tongued
this shedding Blue-tongued lizard
discards its skin
to reveal anew
the true colours within
Photography days #29.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Autumn haiku 2 for #01 (variations)
Fallen maple leaf
Colour faded to dull brown
Winter is coming
Fallen maple leaf
Together we fall to ground
Winter is coming
Poetry days #33.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Witness
We witness their leaving like smoke in the wind
the wildlife departure impossible to rescind
following First Nations people out of the bush
into memory alone at an increasing rush
when we came here there were many koalas just 16 years ago
now their sighting is uncommon as they falter and go
and the freshwater crays I haven’t seen for five years
the metal blue of their backs absent - extinction fears
there once was a blackfish but it also is gone
from the spring creek below us it once called home
and the robins are fewer where they once dominated
the platypus just hanging on from being eradicated
I’m sure the list is much longer but what more can one do
than try to protect what is left sheltered in a zoo
more people and cars, disease, cats, foxes, more stock
more land cleared, less native food, climate change, ticking clock
we should know better but our efforts are weak
we talk local but the world must now deliver what we seek
Poetry days #30.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Tableland Talk December 2024
Spring beaks
chirping for attention
mouths always open
feeding is a frenzy
chicks ever hoping
Photography days #24.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Stars
The star that fell as a bright flaring slash across the sky was really a meteor
the dull star that brightens then fades over weeks in the night above is really a comet
the star that arcs in a consistent orbit lit in the heavens is really an artificial satellite
if ever a star was to really fall toward earth the solar system would simply ignite
There is no Father Christmas
Poetry days #26
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Three Yellow-tailed black cockatoos
The one on the left said, "What will we do?
I think share all our seed, what about you two?"
The one on the right said, "I've earned more than you."
"I'll be taking full earnings, as is my due!"
The one in the middle said, "Be reasonable." On cue.
"There's no need to bicker, dissent or argue.
Let's eat what we need and let some accrue."
The way forward was set by this Yellow-tailed black guru.
Poetry days #22.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
A springtime view from Boundary Hill
Bucolic scenes
the stuff of dreams
where farmland meets
bushland seats
Photography days #21.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Tableland Talk November 2024
Birdsong
The bird that spoke that first perfect note
was a revelation to its kin
because she could sing so beautifully
the other birds decided to join in
some of the birds variations heard
they felt they could do better
so they sang with melodies that made
the landscape ring
and to each note
gave a letter
a chorus formed of singing birds
who organised their songs
into works of art
many species took part
and for the choir
others came along
a feud broke out all about
which birds sang best of the rest
unresolved each species kept
their songs close to their chest
and so today when you hear each
sing their special tweet
be mindful that this is why
only one song can each species
ever repeat
Poetry days #16.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Dew
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.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Tableland Talk October , 2024
As a volunteer Editor I prepare, publish and write for this publication. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to any content.
Birds
Each bird to its own
the cockatoos wheeling and complaining about the violent hand claps that have warned them off the fruit
I swear they’ll go hungry or find someone else’s trees to plunder
the blackbird dashing here and there
tossing up mulch and leaf litter from the garden beds every which way
then singing for their supper
who could begrudge them with such sweet voice
the tiny silver eyes scouring the Japanese maples for tiny insects
darting from one bough to another twittering to each other as if conversation was never allowed a gap
the wild ducks patrolling the grass
mama papa and nine waddling ducklings
who alternate between a confident swagger and animated scurry to parental shelter when too far astray
the chiming grey shrike thrushes sending their musical calls to each other
gladdening the hearts of everyone in acoustic range
adding their friendly company to garden diggers and verandah sitters with books in hand
the magpie family units patrolling the grounds for prey
maturing juveniles wrestling on granite pavements practicing nesting with twigs and twine stolen from the vege patch
constantly whining and dining at mums beak
the multi coloured rosellas in flocks of crimson, green and metal blue
nipping seed heads from the grass flashing colour into the sky
making the landscape a vivid tapestry
bell chiming to each other from tree to tree
the twitching turning ever restless honeyeaters constantly on the wing
eastern spine bills diving into blossoms with curved needle beaks
new hollands darting and diving with gusto at every intruder
wattle birds holding all at bay or aggressively chasing them away
the hopping bower birds establishing their flock
with growing numbers and inquisitiveness staking their ground
atop water bowls and into every ripening fruit they can steal their strong stubby beaks ready to stab and peel
the soaring raptors spiralling aloft on the wind
keen eyes of the hunter for anything that moves
diving like a deadly missile from heaven above
to capture a rodent, a rabbit or unaware dove
Poetry days #09.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Green shed Wood shed
evening light
green shed machine shed
for grass and pruning nicely cropped
wood shed drying shed
wood split and chopped
Photography days #09
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Sunshine v breeze
Fierce sunshine challenges an emerging breeze,
"Take me on if you will, my radiant expertise".
Breeze stays gentle, slowly brings summer rain.
"Well sunshine, would you challenge me again?"
Poetry days #04.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want Ai to use my work.
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.
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