COLOUR MY COUNTRY

… Maureen Clifford © The ‪#‎ScribblyBark‬ Poet ..

The Kookaburras chortled and called in the sun

as the legends tell us that they do

and the dark midnight sky faded out to soft grey

tinged with lilac, an interesting hue;

and old Mother Nature an artist apart

splashed her colours like paint on a canvas – her art

is breathtaking and always strikes right at the heart

of the people who live in God’s country .

All the colours of the rainbow are gathered here

there’s the soft pink of Sturt’s Desert Rose

and the yellow blossom of the wattle you see

whilst round Spinifex clumps tickle toes.

The Perentie display colours grey, green and brown.

Red grevillea share their sweet nectar around

after rain tiny daisies and ground flowers abound

each one adding colour to country.

She paints ancient deserts in rich golden hues

inland rivers she paints ochre brown ,

whilst her oceans are tinged in soft turquoise and cream

with their shorelines in silver, and down

in the depths she has coral in carmine and green

with clusters of pink brain coral to be seen,

sunlight penetrates through the watery sheen,

illuminating the depths of God’s country.

There’s a rock in the centre that’s bright fiery red

but it changes its colour at whim.

Sometimes it is purple at other times blue –

likewise Kata Tjuta her twin.

This is Anangu land and all are welcome here

but please show respect to the rock they hold dear

she is sacred to them – do not climb her for fear

of offending their Gods in their country.

 There are flocks of Piyar-Piyarpa wheeling round

 pink and white, bright against a blue sky.

And a Papa-Inura howls often at night

as he sits ‘neath the stars - hear his cry.

As Malu – the red kangaroo thumps on by

the ancient ones hear – and their voice is a sigh,

a mere whisper of breeze as they bid you goodbye

Palya Piranpa from God’s country.