Homework for June - Wilabalangaloo

[Maureen K Clifford]

Wilabalangaloo is a beautiful little spot with stunning views just outside of Berri in South Australia. The Nature Reserve was donated to the National Trust in 1971 as a flora and fauna reserve. It was originally part of the large grazing property, Cobdogla Station. The name Wilabalangaloo is thought to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘the place of red, yellow and brown stones’, a link to the colours in the cliffs.


Wilabalangaloo. ... Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet


If you ever go down the Murray
stop at Wilabalangaloo.
it's just on the outskirts of Berri -
where the blue leaved mallee lives too,
sharing wilderness space with rare bird species,
the small blue wrens and Cockatoo,
there's so much to see, a day's not enough
to view Wilabalangaloo..

The smell of the Jasmine is so sweet
out at Wilabalangaloo.
Sit quiet - hear the patter of small feet
and the thump of the kangaroo.
You can marvel all day at red sandstone cliffs
as so many day-trippers do,
and wonder if black men once wore the red
soil from Wilabalangaloo.

The Murray River flows, creeping slow
lazy Wilabalangaloo.
White clouds reflect in water below
and a Cormorant sits askew.
This place, named for yellow and red and brown stones -
Desert cassia, appeals to
a hungry Thornbill in the bright sunshine
feeds at Wilabalangaloo.

Ajuga Australis lifts its head
there at Wilabalangaloo.
Offers purple blossoms to the sun
'neath the sky of deep cobalt blue.
The honeybees gather - its nectar to sup
and sip at a globule of dew
captured in its throat - a sparkling jewel
gem of Wilabalangaloo.

A tree with flood levels clearly marked
leans at Wilabalangaloo
and its gnarled roots writhe at its base
as tortured souls are known to do.
In the seventeen ninety floods we can see
it rose sixteen metres - it's true,
Swallows now nest where the flood waters were
once at Wilabalangaloo


Step back in time - come visit this place
here at Wilabalangaloo
sense the spirit of the ancient ones
a feeling of deja vu,
as you stand and gaze from a towering cliff
and absorb the beautiful view.
a native moorhen with her young appears...
a young queen with her retinue

[Ron]

Well done Maureen, you have described Wilabalangaloo with a passion, and beautifully so.

It sounds like the place to go to when you just want to switch off, kick back and let the world go by.

'As tortured souls are known to do' what a great analogy!

I really enjoyed the read,
Cheers
Ron.

[Terry]

I'm sure I have passed through here Maureen,
but it was long ago and only have faded memories of it now.
But reading your poem reminded me that so many places,
in this great country have something special about them.
Often, it's an almost spiritual feeling harking back to its distant past.

Terry

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thank you Ron and Terry for your kind comment - I love our towns with the Aboriginal names - so unique., so Australian and something to have respect for. I can never understand those 'whingers' out there who object to having European names replaced by the original names given to areas eg Fraser Island now called K'gari. Ayers Rock now known as Uluru.

Why would you want to label anything/anyplace with the mundane when our own fair dinkum Aussie name is so lyrical and lovely ... I suspect it is because they can't spell to save themselves and it falls into the too hard basket but I could be wrong

[Catherine Lee]

Wow, I've never heard of this place Maureen but you've definitely piqued my interest with this excellent poem! The easy rhythm and effective repetition of the place name are just parts of its appeal, as you've also used all the senses in your lovely descriptions to successfully place me right there in a place I've never even known about. Also, like Ron, I too love the original line about the tree with its gnarled roots. Thoroughly enjoyed this poem!

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thank you Catherine - I am delighted its message reached out and touched you as well as Terry and Ron.

We live in such a beautiful country and yet most of us have seen very little of it ...the couple of places on my bucket list I doubt I will ever get to see now - health and age is turning against me and that makes me sad - but life is what it is.