Australian Bush Poetry

By Geoff Smith

All the poems in this book relate to life, events, real people and places. Actual names have been changed. Life experiences should be shared and explained for the benefit of pleasure for others.
The vocabulary is written in Australian language and readers should be aware of this.

The author is his happiest when he is in the “Outback”, sharing life with nature, the birds and native animals. Poems in this book depict his happiness.

Many people have influenced his poems. His memory has held many stories for several years. This book compiles all his thoughts in poems.

The author has recited all these poems at caravan parks, retirement villages and nursing homes and all have been well received as the poems re-call yesterday to many.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Oct 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781984508430

Book preview

Australian Bush

Poetry

Geoff Smith

Copyright © 2021 by Geoff Smith.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/30/2021

Xlibris

AU TFN: 1 800 844 927 (Toll Free inside Australia)

AU Local: [phone] ([phone] from outside Australia)

www.Xlibris.com.au

835059

CONTENTS

Anzac Day

Australian Birds

Australian Fruit

Australian Sports

Canberra

Caravan

Christmas

Connor

Country Homestead

Cricket

Dubbo

Federal Elections

Genealogy

Jimmy and The Mad Billy Goat

Love Restored

Magpies

Melbourne Cup

Narromine Wetlands

Narromine

Nature

Nicknames

Retirement

Rotary

Rugby League

R U OK (Are You OK)

Seasons

Tennis

The Black Dog

The Church Garage Sale

The Country Agriculture Show

The Outhouse

The Unwanted Father

The Whinging Cocky

The Yobo And The Yuppie

True Blue Aussie

Waiting and Observing

Working Class Man

Anzac Day

A day of remembrance for the brave soldiers who went on an adventure unknown and many did not return home. The author’s paternal grandfather was a World War 1 Digger (soldier) and he had many relatives serve in this war. We remember all service men and women in all conflicts on this day.

The ANZACS landed at Gallipoli, Turkey on 25April 1915. It is a public holiday.

Bully beef is cooked, tinned ground mince or corned beef.

Two up is a gambling game here two pennies (copper coins in 1915) wete placed on a flat board and tossed in the air by a spinner. One side of the coin has a head the other side is a tail. Punters bet on heads, two heads landing facing up or tails with to tails facing up.One head and one tail is the third option. Winners share the pool. The game is illegal in Australia except on Anzac Day.

35681.png

Most reverent of days, that all Aussies and Kiwis uphold

April 25th, we both celebrate and recall, the efforts of young souls

Brave young men, on an adventure unsure

They land at Gallipoli, a place unknown before.

To assist our young country, they took up the cause

They left their loved ones and jobs, without a pause

To resist the enemy, on foreign soil

This was their honour, not their toil

The trenches they dug, to shelter from gunfire

When it rained, as it often did, became a mire

Bully beef and black tea, was their meal

Nothing flash for soldiers, it did not appeal.

The summers were hot, the winters bitterly cold

The ANZACS are a tough lot, standing their hold

Kiwis and Aussies, mateship in war

ANZACS forever, observing their chore.

A century on, most diggers have passed by

But we remember them always, wherever they lie

On battlefields, in Australia, or the Shaky Isles

We honour their bravery, for our freedom relies.

The dawn service is held, in every city and town

A time to pause and reflect, on persons unknown, or of renown

As the sun rises, words we do not state

To remember our brave soldiers, some one’s mate.

The march takes place, during mid morning

Diggers are thin, relatives and off spring, with medals adorning

Proudly they march, in time with the band

To honour their heroics, freedom for our land.

A game called two up, is enjoyed by the players

In pubs and clubs, illegal all year, enjoyed by stayers

Heads or tails, or one of each

The spinner is a hero, or a person to beseech

Soldiers of all wars, we honour this day

For they fought for our liberty, without much pay

Never forget the ANZACS, men of fame

You are our heroes, we salute your name.

January 2011

Australian Birds

Not all Australian birds are mentioned in this poem as there are so many. But I hope the reader gets some appreciation of some of the common birds on our shores.

35679.png

Australia is blessed with birds of every variety

From large to small, colourful and dull, others used as a diety

Water birds, species for the inland, birds of prey

To the ornithologist, a feast of birds to allay.

Some favourites of mine I shall list below

The kookaburra with his laugh, sets the world aglow

In a chorus, these birds laugh at dusk and dawn

What they see as funny, to us is a yawn.

The black and white magpie is a one and only

Always busy, seeking worms and grubs, never lonely

He helps raise the young, he mates for life,

He is a good mate and protective of his wife.

The bold pee wee, as busy as a bee

Friendly around homes, nests in a tree,

He has a high pitched shrill

I like the pee wee, a bird not to stand still.

A flock of galahs are raucous, loud and disturbs our abodes

Gorging on grain in paddocks, grain bunkers and roads

Often hanging upside down on electricity wires

This silly bird plays with death and car tyres.

The famous budgie is a caged pet of renown,

Of many colours including green, blue and silver, not brown

A happy soul who whistles and sings, dances as well

A favourite with the kids, loves a mirror and a bell.

The lyre bird is a bird so unique

Not colourful, not pretty, a hard bird to seek

Famous for his mimics of animals and birds

An Australian treasure, we are lost for words.

The emu is a strange bird that does not fly

But he can run out of sight in the flash of an eye

Not pretty or colourful, the male rears the chicks

The female has it easy, she knows the tricks.

The tiny blue wren that jumps and flits

From branch to branch, in search of tit bits

The colourful male with an erect, straight tail

The female Jenny is dull in colour, compared to the male.

So many finches are found around this land

So many colours and species, so many on demand

These busy small birds are favourites of girls and boys

To study, breed and try what nature enjoys.

The majestic Native Companion or Brolga to me

Of the stork family, only in the outback to see

Lovely pink and grey, they nest near water

A spectacular dance