WauloK : The life and interests of an Aussie

As he watched the crackling fire,
The flames leapt, higher and higher,
Showing brilliant hues amongst the glowing blaze,
Warmth now enveloping him amidst the swirling haze.

His faithful dog warming his feet,
Feeling drowsy he succumbed to sleep,
Among the tall eucalyptus trees,
One with nature his body and soul at ease.

He began dreaming of the former years,
Where mankind could live free of fears,
Building log-cabins in the bush back then,
Though far away, down in the glen.

Life was modest with nought a care,
Food was plentiful though simple fare,
Living was earned by the sweat of your brow,
With horses towing the stump-jump plough.

Everyone helped their fellow man,
Everything seemed to fit into plan,
When battlers scraped and were down on their luck,
Friends rallied around and showed rare pluck.

Bartering goods was the usual norm,
The midwife delivered any new born,
Those were the days of love and caring,
Giving to others, always sharing.

Any food you may have left over,
Was shared with a swagman or a wandering drover,
People once more were returning to the good old days,
Getting back to basics and rethinking their ways.

On awakening from this refreshing dream,
He ate his breakfast beside the stream,
Then whistling to his dog named zac,
He continued his wandering down the track.

Hilda Oakley
Copyright © 25.11.1997

As he watched the crackling fire,
The flames leapt, higher and higher,
Showing brilliant hues amongst the glowing blaze,
Warmth now enveloping him amidst the swirling haze.

His faithful dog warming his feet,
Feeling drowsy he succumbed to sleep,
Among the tall eucalyptus trees,
One with nature his body and soul at ease.

He began dreaming of the former years,
Where mankind could live free of fears,
Building log-cabins in the bush back then,
Though far away, down in the glen.

Life was modest with nought a care,
Food was plentiful though simple fare,
Living was earned by the sweat of your brow,
With horses towing the stump-jump plough.

Everyone helped their fellow man,
Everything seemed to fit into plan,
When battlers scraped and were down on their luck,
Friends rallied around and showed rare pluck.

Bartering goods was the usual norm,
The midwife delivered any new born,
Those were the days of love and caring,
Giving to others, always sharing.

Any food you may have left over,
Was shared with a swagman or a wandering drover,
People once more were returning to the good old days,
Getting back to basics and rethinking their ways.

On awakening from this refreshing dream,
He ate his breakfast beside the stream,
Then whistling to his dog named zac,
He continued his wandering down the track.

Hilda Oakley
Copyright © 25.11.1997

Curled up under bushes in a tight cocoon,
Snugly protected like a baby in the womb,
Resting in my haven, a secure safe nest,
Warm and cosy, like a child at a breast.

I’m joined to Mother-Nature and her umbilical cord,
A wondrous union in a harmonious accord,
Breathing in the perfume of pine scented trees,
An illusion of radiance hovered over me.

Drifting into dreamland where fantasies come true,
Wishing not for riches, but peace the whole world through,
I entered the cosmos, far away from harm,
Where comfort and love met as a healing balm.

Returning to Earth I awoke from the deep,
Exhilarated and focused after a sound sleep,
A fire in my belly, it came to me,
With a fierce and final urgency.

Preserve the flora for generations to come,
Grow a small shrub or eucalyptus gum,
Leafy bushes planted by hand,
Making Australia a greener land.

Hilda Oakley
Copyright © 27.07.1999

Remember our boys, who travelled by sea,
To fight on the shores of Gallipoli,
Remember our lads, who paid the ultimate price,
Fought for their country, lost their life.

Hearing about the atrocities of war,
It touched their hearts to what they saw,
Encouraging Australians to enlist, to make a start,
Join-up, you can make a difference, do your part.

They reached the front line; they faced their fears,
Gunfire and grenades echoed in their ears,
Bombers roared above, their target they could see,
Dropping their load with pinpoint accuracy.

By day and by night the big bombs fell,
The ground trembled; it was a living hell,
With determination, courage, and with mates, they knew,
It was a challenge, but they would see it through.

Alert to danger all around,
As they lay hidden on the ground,
Remember these highly trained men,
Fighting this war to the bitter end.

Remember our men, suffering in pain,
Wanting to be healed, to fight again,
Remember our loved ones, who never came home,
A father, a brother, a son of your own.

Sitting holding his head in his hands,
Recalling the battle in faraway lands,
In the ferocious encounter, amongst all the strife,
His buddy, his best mate, lost his life.

The war is over, the “Last Post” sounds,
Their best friend lies covered, beneath the ground,
Never again to feel the sun on his face,
His sacrifice ending in a better place.

Remember those soldiers, who kept our country safe and free,
Remember, those were the ones protecting you and me,
Now stop for a solemn minute, bow your head,
Remember those, whose blood was shed.

Hilda Oakley
Copyright © 11.11.2009

Her heartbeat accelerated as she began to prevail,
Mother nature groaned and moaned before the earth could fail,
Bush-fires had seared the fauna and flora of earth,
Now her actions would cause a fertile rebirth.
Out of ashes, dust, filth, grime,
Green shoots were birthed in the unseasoned clime,
Torn between anguish, bitterness, pain,
Generations of one family, had hope once again.
They’d battled drought, overdrafts, now there’s fire,
Work was their opiate, a pressing desire,
Struggling, tossing doubts aside,
They’d plough the burnt land with fierce Aussie pride.
Back-breaking work, yet the horrors would go,
In their place, green things would grow,
Red skies streaked above the flame scorched land,
Screams echoed from anxiety stricken man,
These were jubilant, the elements changed,
Thunderstorms burst on the arid plain.

Hilda Oakley
Copyright © 01.09.2001