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Autumn in The Antipodes


To the casual eye,
autumn gives no cue 
in the Australian bush.
No last choke of color 
to see off a season,
trees here keep 
their clothes on.

Change is subtle, 
leaves are shed all year 
in a sprinkle of drab.  
Here though, trees
can suddenly drop 
a half ton limb
on a dead calm day
when there's not
a breath of wind.

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Lin Lane

Date: 3/19/2025 2:50:00 PM

I don’t see much of a color change here, Paul. Bare naked tree limbs give cause to frown. I think pass on picnicking beneath one of the trees you mentioned.

Paul Willason
Date: 3/21/2025 2:17:00 AM

Hi Lin...we have a number of Eucalyptus species that are prone to this...hence the often stated warning, never camp under a river red gum ( one of the most dangerous trees ). Beauty has a dark side in this case. Many thanks for reading this one and yr comments my dear friend.