A Letter From Downunder Poem by Robert Harrison

Downunder - Australia
Dingo - Native dog
Giggery- Hollowed out tree limb used as musical instrument
Swagman - Gentleman of the road
Billabong - Trapped water after the rains
Bluey - Humping his bluey (carrying his belongings)
Kelpie -Breed of cattle dog
Brummy - Native of Birmingham, England
Bullbar - On front of 4X4's for bush bashing
Min Min Lights - Balls of light that can be seen at night in the outback, keeping pace with the vehicle then disappear.
Roos - Kangaroo


I'm an old Brummy writing from
downunder,
A country of drought and drawn
out thunder,
Where the Dingo's call haunts
you all night long.
Dark the Aborigine tell of their
past glory,
To the droning of a diggery by
the Jolly Swagmans billabong.

It is a country of vast outback,
stretching far beyond the beaten
track. And your travel only stops
when you reach the nearest star.
Where the bones of cattle and of
men who have entered the great
outback, are seen as you trek
the sandy deserts from Urandandi
to Kingonnya.

Whirling Willy Willies, and ghostly
Min Min lights, specters of hot dry
days and freezing desert starry nights.
Grey Roo's come bounding out from
nowhere in front of headlight beam;
bouncing of the bull bar they die
listening to their own wild scream.

Shimmering pools of water float o'er
the miles of salt, tempting deranged
souls; at their feet must lie the fault.
They had left their broken vehicle to
seek their fellow men, instead of
staying where they were, till another
traveler found them.

Sweet the outback wild life,
with its beauty of colored flowers.
Bright carpet the miles of desert
after infrequent cooling showers.
Beyond the Black Stump where
the land is to vast to fence, the wise
one prepares well before he sets forth
hence.

I'm and old Brummy writing from
downunder, a country blessed with
beauty and of wonder, from the top end
of Cape York at old Mapoon.
Where the Swaggy still humps his bluey,
with his Kelpie faithful Hughie, from
Shark Bay on the Indian, to Queenslands
Old Yepoon.