Paradise

PARADISE [for Malcolm] In a lush little valley at the base of Mt. View Quite a trek along Springvale Track Lies a bushman's retreat that proves hard to beat "Briney's Farm" and Malcolm's old shack Of galvanized iron, stone chimney in place Your typical bushman's abode A verandah with views that are unparalleled And the sheep keep the grass nicely mowed A cordial bottle and piece of old poly For a downpipe will substitute An old copper Rheem complete with a tap As a water tank, it's a beaut The abulutions consist of an old metal dish And the mirror from a wreck on the wall The loo with a view is "dig your own" Just over behind that deadfall There's parrots and 'roos, echidna and trout Wild duck and cockies that shriek And the sweetest spring water you ever will taste Flowing down along Springvale Creek Inside the shack is an Aussie bloke's dream Washing piled up near the wall The larder's well stocked, tinned peas and an onion And there's coffee and tea if you call Out back of the shack, an assortment of chairs And a fence to keep the sheep out An old camping cot, it's canvas length-ripped One bean fart too many, no doubt! There's jerries and chainsaw, knick-knacks and bits All manner of tools set around Woodpile and axe, rams head on gate And rabbits springing out of the ground The ex-posties bike, at the back door she waits Old reliable to her master When it's footy tips time, or a thirst to be slaked Down the hill to the pub he will blast her Now some might think the shack a bit rough And not quite to their liking But it'll do me any day Well worth a full marathon's hiking Cause you're always made feel welcome there In that bushman's paradise And in these days of 'up yours mate' That's pretty bloody nice!This poem is dedicated to and inspired by a friend of mine who lives a true bushman's lifestyle in the mountains of the high country in southern New South Wales. I just hope that the "Australiana" terms that I've used in places aren't too colloquial, so that they lose their meaning/significance to those from other countries. What do you think? Written December 19th, 2001 © on Dec 19 2001 10:27 AM PST   0 • 14