Outback Crime Poem by Herbert Nehrlich

They were at first perceived
as the fresh winds of change.
Though change is a rare animal out west
but when they woke, twas not to be believed
a firewall raced red and angry cross the range.
A butcherbird alerted Mrs. Emu in her nest.
sadly it was too late for them to flee
the stench of burning flesh rose to the sky
as giant gumtrees fell, proud victims of this shame.
One ancient truck, hand-painted red was seen by all
it stopped, allowing yellow oilskin men to pee
tall flames come closer now, their thought is not to die
and fight this monster and emerge perhaps in fame.
It is a tough and thankless task, a fruitless call
when Nature's anger is unleashed in the Outback
and folks will stay defending homes and pets and crops
when winds turn vicious and the mercury explodes
there is no time to guide the ute down to the track.
Where searing heat combines with flames the journey stops
and in the years they will be singing bushmen's odes.
You asking why makes us two mates on God's brown earth
what is the sense, the rationale to kill your sheep
the little foal whose brumbie mother just gave birth
and all those folks who still had promises to keep?