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Another Road Kill

Spent all day cleaning up my car for a trip to Broken Hill. Serviced, oiled and greased. The petrol tank is filled. Left Adelaide for the open road; sun setting in the west. An orange sky slowly dies; stars are soon addressed. Country music on my radio; the white line passes by. Now and then there's a bend helping to clear my mind. Through wheat fields; mallee scrub - across a saltbush plain. The tar is mine I'm all alone - in a second comes the pain. Hoppity kick and on the road a big and getting bigger Roo. I've got brains and I've got brakes but there's nothing I can do. It's an awesome sight in headlights, heading for my grille What makes me sad and hopping mad is another road kill. I'd like to say I drove away and the Roo had up and went, but my radiators hissing steam; my bonnet's badly bent. The poor old Roo is lying dead on the shoulder of the road. I get a lift with a cockie’s son who laughs ‘well I'll be blowed.’ Hoppity kick and on the road a big and getting bigger Roo. I've got brains and I've got brakes but there's nothing I can do. It's an awesome sight in headlights, heading for my grille What makes me sad and hopping mad is another road kill. If you’re driving through the outback where roads look clear ahead, take notice of the kangaroos that you see laying dead. They don't hop from the scrub with intentions they may die, but if they do, they'll take you too - and every Roo will try. Hoppity kick and on the road a big and getting bigger Roo. I've got brains and I've got brakes but there's nothing I can do. It's an awesome sight in headlights, heading for my grille What makes me sad and hopping mad is another road kill.

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Terry Flood

Date: 12/1/2018 4:52:00 AM

Great Lindsay, i find it disturbing to count the number of dead pheasants on my two mile trip into town (they’re released for shooting in the local fields ). 29 in two miles is the current record... boy, am I glad we don’t gave kanaroos

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 12/2/2018 5:59:00 PM

G'day Terry … that is really sad - kangaroos and emus destroy many vehicles and have human victims too. When it's drought conditions, kangaroos gather in huge numbers for any remaining food and no road sense at all - thanks Terry - Lindsay

Duke Beaufort

Date: 11/25/2018 7:58:00 PM

When an animal is killed in this way, it's most unfortunate. It's a bit of a metaphor for some of the unintended consequences of what we do. There's a lot to think about here! We all have quite a lot to think upon. Thanks Lindsay for reading some of my poems. I really love reading yours.

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 12/2/2018 5:55:00 PM

It's a pleasure to read your limericks Duke. Time is my biggest enemy, and it's hard to fight at times. It's a horrible sight on outback roads, but eagles, hawks, ravens, dingoes and foxes are happy about it - thank you Duke - Lindsay

Indiana Shaw

Date: 11/12/2018 9:17:00 PM

Those Roo's need to get back to school and learn the highway code - as there is nowt as worse as a road kill blocking up the road . . . : )

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/13/2018 6:45:00 PM

Oops Indiana - I apologize for changing your name.

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/13/2018 6:44:00 PM

G'day Gershon … you could talk to kangaroos and emus until you're blue in the face and nothing will change. They seem to have a death wish - thanks Indiana - Lindsay

Gershon Wolf

Date: 11/11/2018 7:22:00 PM

Jumpin Jiminy, but this was good! :) gw

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/13/2018 6:41:00 PM

Hello Gershon … it is a sad tale for the 'roo and can be an expensive one for the vehicle owner. I just wish there was a solution to the slaughter - thanks Gershon - Lindsay

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 11/9/2018 9:00:00 PM

Sounds like you have had quite an adventure on the road, nicely written Laurie, wishing you a great weekend.

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/13/2018 6:37:00 PM

Thank you Pixie Dust … it's a constant worry on rural roads with kangaroos and emus in some places so thick that you must drive slow as they have no road sense at all. I don't like seeing them hit - thank you Pixie Dust - Lindsay

Robert L. Hinshaw

Date: 11/9/2018 5:20:00 PM

What at terrific tale, Lindsay - sorta sad for the hapless roo; but you have rights on the tar too! Bob

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/13/2018 6:33:00 PM

G'day Bob … yeah, so many kangaroos are hit by vehicles and in the outback, eagles, hawks, crows, foxes, and dingoes turn up with a knife and fork - Lindsay

Harry Horsman

Date: 11/1/2018 5:27:00 PM

Wow, This is truly a poem, to be read to the public, a wonderful story, and so many, especially in Oz, and around the world will relate, if not the Roo, other beast, victims to road kill.

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/8/2018 5:36:00 PM

Thank you for reading and commenting Harry … it's very, very true what you wrote, and in this world of the almighty dollar, very costly as well - Lindsay

Timothy Mcguire

Date: 10/31/2018 1:29:00 AM

I love this, the story and the rhythm. Good Job

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/8/2018 5:34:00 PM

Hello Timothy … thank you for your kind comment Timothy. I dare say there's plenty of wildlife in the US that can surprise you when driving - Lindsay

Rico Leffanta

Date: 10/29/2018 4:21:00 PM

Whether Roo or rue, we know its true! Well said, Lindsay!

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/8/2018 5:32:00 PM

G'day Rico … colliding with a roo leaves the vehicle owner plenty to rue about. Sadly, too many of these beautiful mammals end their life on the fast lane - thanks Rico Mate - Lindsay

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 10/29/2018 12:53:00 PM

South Africa and Austrailia are alike in many ways Lindsay, one of them being that animals jump right into your headlights, or in the park in broad daylight, head for the opposite side of the road with no stop sign in between! I think the worst was when i was younger and went with my parents to Sun City and we passed a dead donkey in the middle of the road - it was still there on our return 4 days later! Best wishes, Jennifer

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/8/2018 5:28:00 PM

Hello Jennifer … thank you for reading and commenting Jennifer, and I imagine a collision with some of Africa's large animals ends up with grief all around. Hitting a seven foot kangaroo has at times had dire results - Lindsay

Charles Messina

Date: 10/29/2018 5:47:00 AM

G'day Lindsay... So sad when we see road kills, I never saw a roo in my neck of the woods but I have seen plenty of unlucky deer. Wonderful poem mate - Charlie

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/8/2018 5:24:00 PM

G'day Charles … The world over, wildlife are tragically slaughtered with the ever growing volume of traffic. Roos can quickly breed up in large numbers, so many become victims on the roads - thanks Charles - Lindsay

Tom Cunningham

Date: 10/29/2018 3:53:00 AM

Lovely verse Lindsay, reminds me when I used to go to work at 03.30, rabbits would run away and then run in front as I passed. Clunk. Death wish or what. Tom.u

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/8/2018 5:19:00 PM

G'day Tom … thanks for reading and commenting Tom. An adage here is 'acting like a rabbit in the headlights' so your comment is spot on - confusion then disaster or luck - Lindsay

Susan Ashley

Date: 10/28/2018 8:03:00 PM

Lindsay, your heartbreaking ballad beautifully expresses the sadness felt at another road kill. You tell the tragic tale in wonderfully rhythmic and moving verses with amazing imagery that hops off the screen. Poor Roo.. Your poignant poem touches my heart deeply. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Lindsay Laurie
Date: 11/8/2018 5:16:00 PM

Hello Susan … unfortunately, this is a tragic way of life for a number of our native animals. Attempts have been made using reflectors on guide posts to have kangaroos hop away from roads, not across, but still there are collisions - thank you for your fine comment Susan - Lindsay