James Martin Devaney Poems

Week after week it shrank and shrank
as the fierce drought fiend drank and drank,
till on the bone-dry bed revealed
the mud peeled;
...

Oh, came you up by the place of dread
(west red, and the moon low down)
where no winds blow and the birds have fled
...

Leaning against the wind across the paddock ways
comes Dan home with forward stoop like a man bent and old,
...

Dirrawan went into the bush to spear waat,
but he forgot about waat the red wallaby.
he thought about dirridirri the small bird and deereeree the wagtail
he thought about wonning the lightning and tumberumba the thunder.
...

Because I went the lone ways
Among the tall trees,
Because I loved the blue days,
The bird melodies
...

The tufted gums along the rise
Stand black against the evening skies.
And in the red west sombreing
As daylight dies,
...

I will be your stay
When the feet falter.
I will be your stay
When the tears blind.
...