KIMBERLEY NIGHT

Black Fruit Bats Ready for the Evening Flight

Sunset over the Lagoon

Still Sunset over the Lagoon

Barking Owl above our Van (in the Boab)

KIMBERLEY NIGHT

LOOK, IS THAT A CROC OVER THERE, DONT KNOW, DONT CARE
YOU ALL LOOK SO SILLY CHARGING HERE, CHARGING THERE
SHINING YOUR TORCHES , SPOTTING EYES IN THE DARK
RUNNING AROUND HAVING A LARK

HAVE ANY OF YOU BOTHERED TO LOOK TO THE SKY,
TO LOOK AT THE SHOW HAPPENING ON HIGH
DO YOU SEE THE WEE BIRDS, HOW THEY WHEEL AND THEN TURN
TRAVERSING THE HEAVENS, THE EARTH THEY NOW SPURN
HOW MANY ARE THERE FREE WHEELING IN SPACE
FIRST THEY ARE SLOW, NOW PICKING UP PACE

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FLOCK WHEELS AROUND
AND PLUMETS AND SETTLES BACK DOWN ON THE GROUND
INTO THE REEDS ALONG THE PONDS SHORE
INTO THE TREES THERE ARE NOW BIRDS GALORE
THEIR TWITTERING CHATTER NOW GENTLY SUBSIDES
AS THEY TUCK THEIR HEADS UNDER AND CLOSE DOWN THEIR EYES

AND NOW AS I GAZE INTO THE SUNSET’S RED MAW
ONCE MORE MY EYES WIDEN, I’M SILENT – IN AWE
THE BATS IN THEIR THOUSANDS CLIMB ‘CROSS THE SKY
THEIR NUMBERS SO VAST, THEY TORTURE THE EYE
LEATHERY WINGS, THEY FLAP OER MY HEAD
SOME FOOLS ARE FILLED WITH MIND NUMBING DREAD


IN NUMBERS SO VAST THEY CAN’T HELP BUT AMAZE
AS THEY HEAD OUT BUSH, THEY NEED TO GRAZE
ON BLOSSOMS AND FRUITS THAT ABOUND IN THIS LAND
DISTRIBUTE THE SEEDS, GIVE NATURE A HAND
AS THEY FLY SILENTLY INTO THE NIGHT
THEY PRESENT TO THE EYE A WONDROUS SIGHT

THE BATS HAVE ALL PASSED, THE MOON RIDES ON HIGH
THE BREEZE IN THE REEDS GIVES A SOFT SIGH
THEN SOFTLY AT FIRST, AN OWL STARTS TO BARK
THEY ONLY TALK WHEN IT TURNS DARK
UP IN THE BOAB, IT’S BRANCHES SO BARE
A RARE TREAT, NOT ONE BUT A PAIR

ALL NIGHT THEIR DISCUSSION FALLS SOFT ON THE AIR
AS HE ASSURES HER, SHE IS TRULY FAIR
I HOPE HE’S SUCCESSFUL, I HOPE FOR A NEST
WITH A COUPLE OF EGGS TUCKED ‘NEATH HER BREAST
FOR A COUPLE MORE OWLS WOULD NOT GO ASTRAY
A COUPLE MORE OWLS TO WIND DOWN THE DAY

A KIMBERLEY NIGHT, A KIMBERLEY SKY,
THE STARS, THE SPIRITS LOOK DOWN FROM ON HIGH
THE FULL MOON IS SAILING AND SENDING HER GLOW
ACROSS THE LILLYS AND THE CROCS DOWN BELOW
MY HEART IS SO FULL, MY SPIRIT REPLETE
MY EYES I CAN CLOSE, MY DAY IS COMPLETE
Stephanie..........