Best Bandicoot Poems
In one square mile, northeast of Noojee,
there are seven birds that I often get to see
as I walk on the tracks in pristine forestry,
in one square mile, northeast of Noojee.
A Whipbird crack through ti-tree scrub,
a Lyrebird echo from Cascade Creek,
Red Browed Finch on the sword grass heads,
I’m watching close a Ground Thrush sneak.
Black Cockies feed on Blackwood wattle,
in heath Blue Wrens are a family,
Yellow Robins perch on a paperbark trunk
in one square mile, northeast of Noojee.
In one square mile, northeast of Noojee,
are seven mammals sometimes I get to see,
as I walk on the tracks in pristine forestry,
in one square mile, northeast of Noojee.
Echidnas forage in wood or litter
Wallabies graze on grass and weeds,
a burrowing wombat sleeps all day;
high in a manna gum, a Koala feeds.
Sugar Gliders doze in a hollow log,
like Ring-tail Possums in a high ti-tree.
A Bandicoot scarps through the undergrowth
in one square mile, northeast of Noojee.
In one square mile, northeast of Noojee,
in Cascade Creek sometimes I get to see,
as I look at the water in pristine forestry,
in one square mile, northeast of Noojee.
Flowing over sand, fishbone fern as cover,
lurk Blackfish and the Gippsland Cray.
Brown trout forage in the hiding place
where Mountain Galaxias are their prey.
In Cascade Creek; well the Platypus play,
in long deep holes, but are rare to see.
There’s Short Finned Eel, Yabbies and Shrimp,
in one square mile, northeast of Noojee.
In one square mile, northeast of Noojee,
are a few reptiles I sometimes get to see,
if I look down at my feet in pristine forestry,
in one square mile, northeast of Noojee.
There are Blue Tongue Lizards and Three Lined Skinks;
Goanna’s up a tree and the Tiger Snake.
There’s Copperheads or Red-bellied Black,
and treading on snakes is a big mistake.
In one square mile, northeast of Noojee,
Growling Grass Frogs watch from water grass,
And the ‘pobblebonk’ croak is an Eastern Banjo,
in a swampy pool as I walk on past.
Skippers float over the canopy blooms;
Mosquito, March Fly, Bush Fly blight;
Jezebel Caterpillars feed on mistletoe;
Stag Beetles hover in the fading light.
In one square mile, northeast of Noojee,
on walking tracks there is much to see,
where I’m just a link that don’t belong,
in one square mile, northeast of Noojee.
Categories:
bandicoot, nature,
Form:
Rhyme
Excitement filled the bushland as December was near
Every creature had been waiting for Christmas time - all year.
Wallabies hung their stockings on a gumtree branch with care
Just as all nice children do – everywhere.
Meanwhile those more up to date logged on the internet
sending E mails to Santa to see what they could get
Koalas draped high treetops with shiny garlands green
And furry possums lined their dens in golden glitter sheen
Wallabies joined in with bright balloons hung on their tails
All the crows tied streamers, cascading from the rails.
Kookaburras’ laughter changed to Christmas songs
While magpies and peewees piped along in throngs.
A wombat and a bandicoot made honeysuckle punch
The parrots came too early and drank’ til they got drunk
And when the’ Magic Pudding’ came to help with Christmas Dinner
His taste was so delicious he left a trifle thinner.
With a Kangaroo as Santa, his pouch stuffed full of cheer
hopping ‘round the outback in the hottest time of year
Just guess what all the drovers got- lots of ice-cold beer.
Suzanne Delaney
For Children's Christmas Poem Contest for Carol Eastman
Categories:
bandicoot, children, christmas, december, kids,
Form:
Rhyme
For many years, the creek, ran passed as a drain,
Polluted and unloved; a poisoned murky vein.
A favoured dumping place, for household unwanted things -
out of sight, out of mind; and no good what it brings.
Life was almost non-existent in the creek
and weed infestation makes it sad and bleak,
but turning a blind eye has gone too long,
and allowing this pollution was so wrong.
So, ‘friends of wattle creek’ were duly formed
and at meetings their ideas quickly warmed,
with working bees to help remove the mess,
and from there, reclamation could progress.
Weeds became victims, of mattock and the hoe;
there’s room for native vegetation to regrow.
Five hundred seedlings were there every week,
and planted by the ‘friends of wattle creek.’
Through the years, there were many setbacks,
from mother nature and her natural attacks,
with flood and storms or sometimes howling gales –
and thankfully, it was just the weak that fails.
With the foliage and the flowers an attraction
for lorikeet and honeyeater squabbling action;
weebills and pardalotes, were giving lots of cheek,
to warm the hearts of ‘friends of wattle creek.’
Undergrowth is cover for the wary bandicoot,
and the sugar glider dines on native fruit.
In the shallows of the creek; water is now clean;
once again, a spiny crayfish can be seen.
In a few short years, the volunteers with vision,
turned away an eyesore, with a right decision,
now it’s paradise restored from something bleak,
and all thanks goes to the ‘friends of wattle creek.’
The health of wattle creek is quite amazing,
and ‘friends of wattle creek’ deserve the praising.
Native fish are thriving; bird numbers are on track;
it warms the heart to know – the platypus is back.
For many years, the creek, ran passed as a drain,
Polluted and unloved; a poisoned murky vein,
but is now a thriving green belt, captivating all,
and the ‘friends of wattle creek’ are standing tall.
Categories:
bandicoot, environment, nature,
Form:
Rhyme
A cry came out of Charleville ... "Please help our bilby mate!
Extinction is now on the cards, let's save him from this fate."
This little Aussie battler, folks, is disappearing fast.
Five other species have now gone; this bandicoot's the last.
Since European settlement it's lost its former range,
Man's pastoral activities have brought about the change.
Along with altered habitat, which one might think enough,
The fox and cat and rabbit too have made life pretty tough.
Its innocent-like face is cute and bandicoot pink nose,
But how those ears seem oversize and, yes, there're two of those.
Its coat is soft, light grey and tan, with a tail that's black and white.
This critter's somewhat rabbit size, who mostly hunts at night.
Nocturnal is the word I think and satisfies its needs
By dieting on insects, fruit, some spiders, bulbs and seeds.
It shelters through the daylight hours in burrows underground,
But if you'd hoped to see one folk they're not so eas'ly found.
They have a few in W.A., the Territ'ry's some too;
Endangered now in Queensland though, they're rather far and few.
So Frank and Pete both raised their hands to help the bilby out
And figured with the nation's help they'd turn their plight about.
In Currawinya National Park they'll build a netting fence,
Around some scrub where they can breed and come to their defence.
The word has got around it seems, folk gather to the fray;
From product sales and gen'rous gifts that fence is on the way.
So take a bow both Frank and Pete and all you Aussies who,
Dug deep to lend a helping hand; the world has need of you.
There's still a few things left to do, so spread the word about;
Perchance we'll save our bilby mate, of that I have no doubt.
Categories:
bandicoot, animals, nature, , cute,
Form:
Rhyme
I researched the earth's endangered species list and this is what I found.
There's everything on the list from A to Z - rare species just abound!
I'll highlight some of the more interesting varieties just to name a few,
That creep and crawl amongst us in this world-wide conglomerate zoo!
There's the Red-bellied Grackle, Pig Footed Bandicoot and Aquatic Rat;
Paraguana Mustached Bat, Zanzibar Guitarfish and the Andrean Cat!
A rare Whiskered Flower Pecker, Canarian Shrew and Amaragosa Vole,
A Peruvian Climbing Mouse, African Wild Ass and an Arend's Golden Mole!
Also listed were the Aruba Island Rattlesnake and the Okinawa Rail,
The Western Wattled Cuckoo Shrike and the Rolling Pebblesnail.
Something called the Philippine Warty Pig and the African Wild Dog,
And a Red-collared Mountain Babbler plus a Tanzanian Screeching Frog!
I also found a Banded Wobblegong and a reptile called a Bailey's Snake,
A Cameroon Clawless Otter and something called a Band-bellied Crake!
How about the Concave-eared Oderous Frog or an Eastern Bristlebird,
The Charming Thicket Rat, Common Yobby or a rare Dahl's Jird!
Some folks may find some redeeming value having these critters in our midst,
And I suppose to a certain degree we must learn with them to coexist.
But more importantly, if humankind can't learn in peace on earth to dwell,
We *****sapiens could end up on the endangered species list as well!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(© All Rights Reserved)
Placed No. 7 on Amy Green's "Ode To The Endangered" Contest - June 2010
Categories:
bandicoot, funny
Form:
Rhyme
Somewhere in Madagascar a baobab yields its fruit
Somewhere in Australia a thylacine chases a bandicoot
Somewhere in Timbuktu a man is speaking in Urdu
Somewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains an old woman stirs burgoo
As some skinny guy tiptoes on skyscrapers
Vagrants and vagabonds burn yesterday's newspapers
As the world turns, my heart yearns and my stomach churns
and as time grinds my mind discerns and my soul is spurned
A child plays somewhere with wild animals
and an orphan blesses the food with refined cannibals
A dog lays somewhere on someone's front porch
and an orchard withers somewhere, its ground is scorched
Categories:
bandicoot, allegory, analogy, image, imagination,
Form:
Rhyme
A broad day light went dark
with his own conscience..
He locked himself
into a cubic space..
he searched for his cellphone
shut its voice..
after the last call...
curtain was up before he recall.
speeding cars, mind blowing cinematography
thrilling chase , dashing heroin,
ruthless villain, mesmerizing hero..
he slipped into the drama
sucked into illusion ...
he laughed with the hero
fought with villain
cried with heroin..
overwhelming story ..
he munched the popcorn so fast!
one hour 25 minutes
he got dragged to a different world
he lived a shadow life..
laughter & pain
hatred & love
inspiring love, motivated anger..
success & death..
he lived it.. he lived it ..
and munched the popcorn so fast!
one hour 25 minutes !
he forgot who he was..
he forgot his own story line
till the minute the hero won the race...
till the heroin ran to dais
to hug the hero...
he forgot who he was..
till the curtain was down..
he came out like a bandicoot!
facing the light with heavy heart of loneliness,
he searched for his car...
he searched for it.....
Categories:
bandicoot, confusion, deep, dream, film,
Form:
Free verse
Stay away from a rough-skinned newt
Their poison skin is deadly, it will make you toot.
Better to linger near an angry bandicoot.
Or go to Sam’s house and watch him play his flute.
If the newt comes near you, run off and hide.
His poison skin is deadlier than cyanide.
Categories:
bandicoot, animal,
Form:
Rhyme
A beaver and a bandicoot,
After playing squash one day,
Were sipping cappuccinos
At a quaint outdoor café.
"Ah, thish ish sho like Parish",
Lisped the beaver with a sigh.
"And I," remarked the bandicoot,
"am 'minded of Mumbai,
And Rome, and Barcelona,
And so many other places."
The beaver merely sat there
Being quiet and making faces.
"What's the matter, chum?" asked bandicoot,
His voice as soft as flannel,
"I thought you tripped as much as I.
Don't you watch the Travel Channel?"
Categories:
bandicoot, animal, humor,
Form:
Light Verse
Ancient oak mythology predicted rainforest would have a large gnarled root.
She'll show up on a Sunday and have a loopy-loop fit for a bandicoot.
Bandicoot will curl up in the root and show the world an amazing show.
Of stars and fireworks, you will see where ever you sidle, slide or go.
Prophecy came true on a Sunday in October in Twenty-Twenty three.
The giant gnarled root grew in one night and yelled “yippee! Yippee!”
Rainforest asked crescent moon to take a look at gnarled root of the tree
“I think this is part of the prophecy,” said the moon, “go ask the sea.”
Categories:
bandicoot, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form:
Free verse
Who is he? They were asking in Montana, Bandicoot.
It was Mr. Electric Blue spider, and he was a beaut.
He kept creeping along, pretending he did not understand.
Besides, he was on his way to hear a Mariachi Band.
Seriously, do you know him? My neighbor asked me.
I thought she was too curious, we call her Widow Zee.
He’s an out-of-towner, a stranger, I said in my best voice.
I hear that he is a widow man, his deceased wife was Joyce.
Categories:
bandicoot, 1st grade, 2nd grade,
Form:
Rhyme
The dance of the light frogs and the banditweets went on forever
I listened to their croaks and watched the robins flock and feather.
The night owl had something wise to say but it sounded like a hoot.
What else could happen? Asked a Dracula driven nose dog bandicoot.
Categories:
bandicoot, 1st grade, 2nd grade,
Form:
Rhyme
The tiny specks grow titanic tension.
They’re often harmless,
Google consoles her.
Yet a rare chance burns beyond solace.
Is it a harbinger of retinopathy?
Will her eye-LEDs illuminating soul be burnt out?
Will tomorrow be void of light and colors?
As she moves her eyes,
the eye floaters drift,
weaving a cobweb of questions.
If the sense dominating her brain fumbles and falls,
the eye sockets will be graves.
Precious sights from her memory lane will haunt her.
She loathes retreating into the dark burrow
like a greater bandicoot rat in the daytime.
Later,
an eye chart and a slit lamp efface her optical anxieties.
‘Life floats across a variety of blurring things,’
she muses and smiles.
Eye Floaters are spots in vision, like black or gray specks, string or cobweb.
First published in The Literary Hatchet (Issue 30).
Categories:
bandicoot, inspirational,
Form:
Free verse