This could be the start of a Series called Tales from The Bush. going back to the early days of settlement. Let me know what you think.

For those not familiar withe the Australian idiom, Hession reffers to the equivilant of Burlap, ( wheat bags, grain bags, Kerosene is often known as parafin in other countries. Wattle and Daub, old time shacks were often made completely with Wattle timber, Daub means the building was often weather with clay or cow dung, sealing up cracks and chinks. Enjoy

Bush Memories

Remember that old bush track winding down between the trees,
Gravell ridges along the sides made by passing wheels
Ruts and potholes forged by wagons with old iron tyres,
Here and there a hoofprint of horse teams passing by


Memories of my childhood coming swiftly back
As I hear the crunch of gravel beneath my feet
as I wander down that old bush track.

The air is ful of sounds and scents, so wonderful to breathe
While birds around are calling, a sound that;s sure to please.

My mind begins to wander to the days when as a lad,
I trudged this track in early morn, my school bag on my back,
And as I see the gum trees growing straight and tall.
I find it hard to remember them at all,

In my reverie my mind conjures up the memory of our old bush shack.
Made from timber as I recall, the old timers called it wattle and daub,
The roof was made of flattened iron, those four gallon tins we kept kerosene in.
No need to have a fancy door, just a gap where hung
some sacking, no fancy fly wire, that was lacking.

A floor of dirt as I remember, which got pretty dusty around December,
Gum branches bundled to make a broom,
Which my mother would wield to sweep the rooms,
Which were small, only three, just enough for my parents and me,

Awindow of sorts was covered with hession, which I was told there was a reason.,
Insects could fly in through either hole and leave through other so I was told,
At least in the winter, these covering kept out the cold

An old kero sene lamp, from the main rooom rafters it hung,
Lighting the table and chairs, where we sat and old songs were sung,
Mum would play on the old harmonium, and the rafters rung,
With our voices, as many old favorites from our lips would come,

Ah the old days, what good times we had,
Simple pleasures were the things we had,
The joys that only memories of past days, bring into view,
Un hurried, un rushed was the life that we knew.

John W 15/11/03