ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

This Gum tree stands on the Fitzroy rivers banks outside the Art gallery. The guttering has been modfied to curve out around its base. Must be getting old if I can see beauty in a tree.


THE GHOST GUM

The ghost gum stands so tall and proud,its manor so serene.
It gazes out upon the land at sights and sounds unseen.
For many years it has endured battle scared its weathered hide.
The ravages ages worn with grace and regal pride.

From its place upon the river bank the first settlers it saw stand.
Those pioneers through hardships toiled to open up the land.
It has seen the township flourish to a city bright and grand.
It has watched the roads and by-ways carved from a harsh and virgin land.

And yet still it stands so stately now with buildings all around.
A proud and true Australian it protects it's piece of ground.
The birds still in its branches nest the winds set its leaves a flutter.
But now they fall to sealed pathways and gather in the city gutter.

Both flood and drought it has endured and it has fought fires deadly hand.
Yet still survives to spread its boughs and branches o'er the land.
It's fate now rests in mans own hands from this land of concrete does it reel.
We must ensure that safe it stays from the axe heads cutting steel.

Yes stately stands the ghost gum let its branches never bend.
On the Fitzroy's bank may it endure a proud Australian till its end.

Bob Pacey ( C )

Love it Bob
Sounds like your a tree lover to.
Sue

Lovely Bob. You old softie you.

Heather

Thanks Sue I will try to post a picture. I've seen a lot of sights in my time but the way the local council has bent the guttering to give this stately gum a chance is great.

The temp dropped to 17 degrees overnight still sleeping in pj's bit different down there I reckon.


Queensland Gotta Love It.

Robert

A lot different down here Bob, clearing ice off windscreeens of a morning BRRRRRRRRR and worse to come.
Sue

Goodonya Bob, you'll be hugging them next.

( you might need to do a bit of a revision and check the spelling


Here's a challenge Bob, don't post a photo. Include in your poem a picture of the tree made by words.

Thanks Sue, Heather and Nev. As you know I do not write very much serious poetry but as I came out of the gallery the other week it hit me.

Not into hugging them yet Nev but I fail to see why we cannot make every effort to keep a bit of greenery where possible.


Off to a show.

See ya's around 8.30 pm if anyone is still up you oldies.

Young Bob

oh Marty you cut me to the bone ( Get it Cut ) How could you suggest chopping up such a beautiful piece of nature and then burning it !

It is guys like you that would destroy all that is beautiful in the world and turn it into a barren desert devoid of all greenery and then say " You should have seen how beautiful this place used to be".


Why do we need to cut down trees anyway when there is enough animal droppings in the world to fuel all the fires thast we need to keep warm and cook. Every house should have a horse or a cow in the backyard specifically for this purpose.

Oh we can grow plantations of trees as a sustainable source of fuel you say but where is the beauty in that ?

Next thing you know you will be advocating allowing cattle to be grazed in the mountain just because it used to be done before in the good old days.

Well I've got news for you the good old days are gone and it is about time we all started to respect nature and what she has to offer.

Nature will win out in the end and we cannot stop it's effects on our dailey way of life as the recent disasters have shown.

All that aside yeah they do burn well ! Go for it mate !

LOL

Bet I had you going there.

Pretty good effort for so early in the morning but it is too bloody cold to go fishing must be at least 15 degrees outside.


Bob