The Outback Track
Black roads disappear into the distance
Left and right saltbush eeks out an existence
No rain here for years, not even a sign
So dry some locals say, “It’s a crime”
Midday heat’s oppressive, driving in scorching sun
Old truck has no air con. It’s not much fun
Taking a chance, open all windows catching a breeze
Keeping a eye out, dreading a swam of “bush bees”
Eagles glide in swirling thermals looking for their fill
Won’t take long to find fresh Kangaroo road kill
A half metre “Frilly” sits atop a small mound of rocks
Making sure the road’s clear before scooting across
Galahs and Cockatoos line edges of the long road
Picking grain and seed left by a road trains load
One can drive for hours along lonely inland tracks
Before you see any people, houses in the outback
In the distance we see billowing clouds of bull dust
Road train’s coming, move over, slow down is a must
Acknowledging each other on our long range C.B.
How quickly, changes of landscape, to this we agree
Surrounded by saltbush a roadhouse comes into sight
Parking, having a brew and delicious country bite
Some driver’s say it’s raining up north, this I know is true
Be driving all night, beating rising rivers just to get through
Hours have past, sun’s setting; it’s starting to rain
Careful not to slide into the table drain
Spotlights on, now bull dust has turned to mud
Across the road a sow runs followed closely by her bubs
Tomorrow while the sun’s rising, I will be home in north Queensland
Where the rainforest meets the beach, I rest my weary feet in sand
Have a few days off, unwind, take a load off my back
Because, soon I will travel back down that outback track.
D J Delaney
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(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Be always safe,
Karen
Lovde the poem. -gene.