Tuesday, March 18, 2014

The Clownfish

That tickles! laughed the clownfish
darting here and there
dodging wavy arms
flitting round with care

The anemone kept dancing
arms fluffed up just so
as the clownfish quickly wiggled
letting fresher water flow

The sea friends' bubbly giggles
were heard from somewhere far
and out of ocean darkness
where bigger fishes are

Came a scary shadow
with toothed mouth open wide
Hurry little clownfish!
I'll hide you here inside!

Reaching for his friend
the anemone wrapped him close
tentacles for cover
poised with toxic dose

The shadow paused, eyes narrowed
having second thoughts
about the little clownfish
unable to be caught

And as his shape retreated
the friends sighed with relief
for friends that help each other
are friends you'd like to keep!


Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Seed

Don’t wake me! said the seed
I’m snug and cosy here
dark richness of the earth
surrounds in layered tiers

The sun continued tickling
rays reaching down below
the bare and barren surface
convincing him to grow

It’s time for you to wake up,
the sun said with a laugh,
the earth is brown without you
it’s missing fresh green grass

Wriggling as the rays
tapped lightly on the seed
he slowly started stretching
ready to concede

Pointing at the sky
tender shoots declare
I’m really glad you woke me,
for Spring is in the air!


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The Water Cycle

Some dances last forever
cycling through the moves
it’s how Earth keeps a constant
a nature-driven groove.

Hip-hopping on the surface
water droplets bounce
jiving to the Sun’s beat
‘til suddenly they jounce-

evaporation.

Water vapour waltzes
swirling in the air
carried on the current
over here to over there.

Colliding with each other
the molecules take hands
a cloudy cabaret
cool atmospheric bands-

condensation.

Left feet are taking over
clouds clash with gentle bumps
the molecules a mosh pit
unlucky ones are dumped-

precipitation.

Rain can fall in buckets
snow can fall in heaps
runoff into rivers,
through valleys,
into seas-

Dancing on forever
waving to the skies
sun sparkling like a disco ball
drawing them up high.


The Boab Tree



Way up north in the Kimberley dry
grows a boab tree – trunk round and wide

Each one unique – arms stretched out bold
Some more than 1000 years old!

The trunk is curved – shaped like a bottle
(unlike the skinny native wattle)

Their girth can stretch to twenty metres
(I wonder how big it’s volume in litres?)

The boab’s bark is smooth and grey
Branches bare during long dry days

But when the season turns wet, new leaves sprout green
brimming with fruit – a sight to be seen!

Flowers white with a pinkish hue
long delicate lines and fragranced too

The boab nuts are different shapes
covered in hair which can be scraped

To reveal the nut – so smooth and dark
their surface used for native art