Drought Conditions Poem by Francis Duggan

Above the stony brown paddocks the swallows they chirp as they fly
It hasn't rained here for a few months and not a rain cloud in the sky
The sheep and their lambs looking skinny the hard ground too bare and dry for grass to grow
The creek it is down to a trickle for late Spring it does seem so low.

The farmer he doesn't seem happy what we need he says is a week's rain
But wishing and praying never do make things happen and hoping is hoping in vain
For this district no rain in the forecast and a weather change is nowhere near
The paddocks the barest I have seen and I've lived here for many a year.

Out there in the stony bare paddock the sheep shelter by the lone gum tree
They find the mid day sun quite warm today a high of thirty three
They huddle close to keep in the cool shade where the bush flies are buzzing around
The birds in the heat remain silent and silence in plenty abound.

In the drought conditions the grass is not growing in the paddocks so stony and bare
And the farmer who for rain had been praying has now given up on the prayer
The Summer has not even started and months of warm weather ahead
The paddocks have never looked barer at this time of year the farmer said