Mallee Rain

A twisting whirly musters
hard baked leaves and bark.
There’s another red sunset,
just before it’s dark.
The wilting wattles weep,
and plea ‘I can’t live on!’
The strong keep fighting drought.
The weak, soon dead and gone.

Wheat fields and their bounty,
wither in the sun to die.
Red dust leaves forever,
adding color to the sky.
A man who’s living heartache,
is this economic pain.
Prays to the Lord and waits…
Then he can smell the rain.

An inch falls in the Mallee;
the Mallee don’t need much
to fill the pans and lowlands,
that yearn to feel the touch.
In the days that follow,
changing is the scene.
An inch here in the Mallee,
and red soil turns to green.

Lightning dances in the sky
to the beat of thunders drum,
heartbreak storm passes on,
the follow up don’t come.
But drifting from the west,
clouds hide the sun away,
land is cast in shadow…
the sky turns steely gray.

And rain falls in the Mallee;
the Mallee don’t need much
to fill the pans and lowlands,
that yearn to feel its touch.
In the days that follow,
changing is the scene.
Rain here in the Mallee,
and red soil turns to green.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2015



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Date: 10/1/2015 3:53:00 PM
This wonderful poem would make a charming song in a place where rain becomes everything! I love this and am fav'ing it. I so enjoy your poems about homeland, about nature. We deal with drought here too at times and also flash flooding when the rains overpower. Aloha, Connie #7 PS the red dirt too!
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Date: 8/4/2015 4:47:00 AM
Hello Lindsay, There is nothing as fantastic to a farmer as rain after drought. You have captured it beautifully. Terrific writing Lindsay.....kind regards------John
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/16/2015 8:49:00 PM
G'day John... thank you for commenting John, and yes, when living in the Mallee I saw both ends of the scale and some years the wheat barely grew six inches - Lindsay
Date: 8/4/2015 3:48:00 AM
such vivid description and wonderful tale of a place in rain, lindsay.. good job!.. hugggs
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/16/2015 8:44:00 PM
Hello nette... thank you for commenting nette. In the outback, rain is the main topic and farms rely heavily on it - Lindsay
Date: 8/4/2015 2:40:00 AM
Oh I so love this Lindsay! Awesome imagery...delightful rhythm and rhyme... I have a list of fav lines: V1 L3&4; V2 L3&4; V4 L1-3. On second thought, why don't I just Fav this? Yes! A 7 and fav! hugs!
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/16/2015 8:40:00 PM
Hello Kim... I'm pleased you enjoyed this poem. It really does tell the story of the Millewa wheat growing plains where rain is hit or miss - thanks Kim - Lindsay
Date: 8/4/2015 1:07:00 AM
You are so talented. Whether telling a funny tale or describing a nature scene, you shine!!
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/16/2015 8:32:00 PM
G'day Andrea... you're making me blush. I read so much talent on this site (your work is great) that makes it shine brighter than me. Thank you for your kind comment Andrea - Lindsay
Date: 8/3/2015 6:06:00 PM
This write swims eloquence in the heart of the readers, you penned this very great. Excellence.........A.M.
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/16/2015 8:27:00 PM
Hello Afolabi... thank you for your encouraging comment Afolabi - Lindsay
Date: 8/3/2015 5:19:00 PM
Another story and description which is taking me to someplace I have not yet seen. I have to visit sometime before I leave this planet. This is almost as good as being there!
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/16/2015 8:25:00 PM
Thanks for your comment Duke... I stayed on an outback station on four occasions and each time was different to the last. Rain or lack of it changes all in semi-desert - Lindsay
Date: 8/3/2015 7:53:00 AM
Excellent. Well penned. Enjoyed. TFS
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/16/2015 8:21:00 PM
G'day Ravi... thank you for your kind comment - Lindsay
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