Life on the land Australia

I remember my Grandmother's experience living in the Outback vividly. This poem could be recognised in any country town here and overseas. She was forever sweeping and cleaning up from dust storms

The wind howls and groans,
A high pitched howl escapes,
With a pain felt moan,
Topsoil carried in the wind,

Then dust, blinding dust, grinding dust,
Under foot, everywhere, dust!,
Dust storms in Australia,

Wind and dust, rotating rapidly,
Rotating rapidly, across the plains,
Gaining momentum, into the air,
Farmers dreams gone, it isn't fair,

A high pitched howl escapes,
With a pain felt moan,
Dust blinding dust, under foot, everywhere dust,
It gets in everywhere, smiling when it finds a hole,
The wind howls and groans, stings your skin and eyes,
Clinging to everything, bowls, filling them eagerly,
Smiling as it finds a crack in the door, or floor,
Covering books and chairs, mighty DUST!

Then as the wind dies, the dust dies,
Anguish!, dust everywhere,
Life on the land, Australia,
Time to clean it up,
Red Dust, wash cups,
Shine and polish floors, doors, windows,

Life on the land, Australia
Everything just like new
Oh! No!
Glance outside, through a freshly cleaned window,
Oh! No!  More wind, More DUST, labouring DUST,
Wind and Dust, Life on the land Australia.

Author's Note

In times of drought this scene is all too familiar in Australia

Reviews

[Beccy]

My dad's uncle has lived in Australia since the sixties, (before I was born,) He was a cartographer and geologist and worked for the City of Canberra. He's over eighty now, but very spry and he spends half the year in Oz, half the year in Oxford, UK. He has lots of stories about the outback, prospecting and exploring and other stuff, (he has a fascinating collection of Opals and other gemstones.) I expect living there day to day is a hard life, like it is in so many inhospitable places around the globe.

Enjoyed the poem muchly, it was quite atmospheric.

Beccy.

[B.J]

Yes it is a hard life in the outback, but a lot of people make ago of it. My Uncle was one of the first to start the radio for isolated stations in outback South Australia

[wordman]

ahh but when there is no dust blowing it is a beautiful country and many strange animals to me
black and white birds ,kangaroos ,koalas and all sorts of reptiles Sydney is a very beautiful city and lets not forget steve the gator fighter

[B.J]

Your right, i could've added many, there is so much I could've put in the poem...but it was mainly about the outback. The bird I could've used is the crow and it's squawk that is so loud..And Steve Irwin's family is a wonderful ambassador for Australia. I was mainly thinking about my Grandmothers life while writing the poem, she was a true pioneer woman of the outback of South Australia. Your comment was great and made me smile...Thank you

[wordman]

you spoke of your grandmother I just wonder if any of us today could survive those times

[B.J]

Some still do and there are stations the size of European countries, or even some of your states. That are just run by families. But they have all mod cons. part of me says I don't think so. If you can search out the Movie "Tracks", Check out this link for the movie it is an amazing story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-DiOyxCQQI

[David Scott]

I watched the seven mile creek series when I was young... Your poetry brings me back to those themes of the hard, yet gratifying life in the outback...
I think this poem would have a strong effect when read and dramatized vocally.

[B.J]

Yes they were hard times for the pioneers a lot expected life here to be like England but it was a lot tougher than they expected. The series was called "Five mile creek" here. I really appreciate the comment actually in my mind it was dedicated to my Grandmother who led a tough but exciting life in Outback South Australia.

[David Scott]

Yes... Five mile... :). Sorry. I was mug younger... It has been 25 yrs since I saw those videos...
Still, a miraculous land...
The world is full of wonder, even in hardships.

[B.J]

:).....................Its been a long time since I saw it as well and had to remind myself of it.

[kublakhan27]

A lovely mix of rhyme, rhythm and repetition, all favourite poetic devices of mine, seamlessly brought together to produce a truly evocative piece that really put me in an Australian state of mind...I've never been there but I've read about the conditions and climates and how they can be this way at times...there is a bittersweet feel to it...it's hard not to sympathize with the farmers' plight in light of how eloquently you've articulated it...vivid and picturesque throughout...I enjoyed this one very much...well done Barb :)

[B.J]

Your most welcome, I have never left my homeland, aim to one day. But I feel there is still more magic to see in my own homeland. Thank you so much for reading my work

[kublakhan27]

I know just what you mean...I'm from Canada, and our country is so big that I doubt I'll ever get to see all the parts I'd like to...always a pleasure my friend.

[B.J]

Oh! Canada such a beautiful country on the Doco's. Thank you for the kinds review

[charlie]

I grew up in a place like this. Drought is a fact of life, only broken periodically with the good years and decent rains. And it does seem unfair - the farmers' dreams gone. But then you realise: what's supposed to be fair about it? Australia is the driest continent in the world, 2nd only to Antarctica. Australian farming practices are so incompatible with the nature of the land and its climate ...
Still, I know too well that dust you write of. Not a bad poem, Barb.

[B.J]

I forgot to put in the authors note, also that the poem can be associated to other countries. I agree our farming practices are incompatible with the land and nature. Quite a few of us do, but like most getting the politicians to take notice that's another thing. I respected your comment because it is honest and thank you for your encouragement

[Jennie Baron]

The insight into life down there is entertaining, although just a few hours west here in Texas the environment is similarly desert-like and harsh. The repetition adds wonderful emphasis to this write.

[B.J]

Thank you for your comment, I did mean to put in the my comment bit can be associated to anywhere in the world...I did enjoy writing it. Thank you much appreciated..I would love to see your land..One day

[Sami Khalil]

"Then dust, blinding dust, grinding dust,
Under foot, everywhere, dust!,
Dust storms in Australia,"

[B.J]

The red dust gets in everywhere and it is almost impossible to get rid off.

[Sami Khalil]

:)...............

[Sami Khalil]

"Wind and dust, rotating rapidly,
Rotating rapidly, across the plains,
Gaining momentum, into the air,
Farmers dreams gone, it isn't fair,

A high pitched howl escapes,
With a pain felt moan,"

[B.J]

Thank you so much for your kind words

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:)......

[Sami Khalil]

"Then as the wind dies, the dust dies,
Anguish!, dust everywhere,
Life on the land, Australia,
Time to clean it up,"

It reminds me of what I saw on the history channel about the dust bowl in America and how it changed so many lives. I'm pretty sure this one didi too...Excellent...:).....................

[B.J]

Thank you my friend, so many pioneers walked of the land because they thought it was going to be like England, some stayed...They just could not farm the land....Ruins dot the outback of a forlorn life.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. You are welcome...:).......

[B.J]

:)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Sami Khalil]

:)...........................