He dared me he did
To spend the night
By the billabong side
Scared? Never no way
Here I am under moon
And wisps of cloud
On a cold dry night
No birds talk with me
Just far away Curlews
Cry on the distant flats
The tall grass is still
Frog plopping is stopping
There is not a freshie
To be seen with eyes reflecting
The soft moonlight
Not a fish stirs asunder
All wallabies have retreated
from the water's dark edge
A lone pelican glides to me
A warning in itself is it not?
It is going to be long enough
This starry still night
It is going to be cold indeed
By this thicket of rushes
Just the sort of night for mayhem
My dog lies silent but awake
Beside the shadowy bend knowingly
Her nose in the air sniffs away
So why then am I not afeared
Why do I whistle a little tune
You see what they all don't know
Is that I put this creature
This Quinkan fella in here
Such a long time ago
When he was nothing but
A wee small devil of a lad
And so you see that makes me
Of the same ilk as he
It is time to meet and chat
About all of what has passed
Sitting here under the moonlight
A bow wave moves from upstream
Slowly and directly to me
Oh yes he dared me
And I am happy he did.
Many thanks Robert.Your comments are truely valued...Cheers Geoffrey.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Hi Geoffrey, a comment about imagery from another poet friend (Robert) , you do indeed have an amazing skill of taking the reader with you on these journeys and adventures.
Thank you dear John. You are welcome at my side of the waterhole any time my friend. Cheers Geoffrey.