mountainpepper

I am the silver mirror, on the road ahead,
I am the pastel, that paint the picture dry,
I am the yellow stem of grass, waiting for the change,
And I am the ochre soil that keeps beckoning the sky.

I am maroon gibber stone, that leave impressions of no life,
I am the drought that turns, the land to dusty brown,
I am the tinge of green, that sweeps across to change the scene,
When the welcome rain comes tumbling down.

I am the black cross-shadow of the eagle flying high,
I am the white puffed cloud, so lonely drifting by,
I am the colour of this countryside.

I turn to the golden Mulga, when the season says to bloom,
To mingle with the gray-green saltbush on the plains,
I am the backdrop, that edges the horizon,
Of a distant curving mountain range with purple haze.

Flowers breathing out their perfumed stamens,
From taunting greens, searching whites, violet and blue,
Takes on a pollinator, prepares the world for new life,
Reintroduced when the dark gray clouds come into view.

I am the black and white butcherbird, with blended feathers pied,
I am the red dust, that lifts and pinks the sky,
I am the colour of this countryside.

I am seen in death, in a charcoal gray landscape,
Following a lightning strike caused carmine fervid glow,
You will see me as, the tiny lime green shoots,
Returning on the branches, or lignotubers down below.

I am the lemon tinge, just before the sunrise,
I am the golden sun, on azure climbing overhead,
I leave the land to rest, in fiery red,
I am the campfires orange glow, beside the drover’s bed.

I am the colour of this countryside,
The channel, block, riverboat and lock.
The salt, homestead, the wandering stock,
I am the hunger and the pain,
I am the strength, I am the strain,
I interchange…defy…abide…
I am the colour of this countryside.

Bear

wonderful and corolful portrait of nature and your country side excellent Mountainpepper
handshakes
bear

mountainpepper

G'day Bear...
Thanks for reading and commenting. Yes, I live on the edge of the outback, and although the colours are basically pastel in the countryside itself and appears harsh. It has many beautiful coloured birds, especially parrots which are quite common.

Lindsay

Bear

wow thats great here where I live in illinois we have alot of colorful birds also cardinals, robins, bluejays, plus quite a few Im just getting to know the names of. oing to get a camera and start to try to get some pictures of them
handshakes
bear

butchiesmom

I'm in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians of Pennsylvania. I love to turn off the TV, open the windows and listen to the bird song. The changing of the seasons is so evident here. We go from light green leaves sponge painted on the bare tree limbs, to the dark green screens of summer. Then dark green goes to electric yellow, ambers, reds and browns in autumn, then to the bare limbs of winter. I find all of them fascinating.

You've introduced us to the scenery of Austrailia and I thank you for it.

Gail

mountainpepper

G'day butchiesmom...(I spelt it right this time)
Yes, wherever we live there is beauty. It's a pity more of us didn't respect it. At times i wish our kids at school in one of the lower grades had to write three pieces on the environment as part of their English carriculum. It would at least make the child aware.

Lindsay

butchiesmom

Thank you, Lindsay for the poem you made out of my comment. I'm going to post it, with credit to you and with some changes. I'm calling it Appalachian Foothill's Seasons.

hugs,
Gail

Terence

Hi Lindsay, this could well have been a rather boring format but your descriptions were so clear, bright and insightful that I enjoyed your poem very much.

Thanks, Terence

mountainpepper

G'day Terrence...
Thankyou for reading and posting your encourageing comments. If you ever get the chance to visit the outback between Mildura and Broken Hill, you will witness each line of this poem. The country may look dry, inhospitable and be very hot, but it is beautiful.
Thanks again.

Lidsay