Beacons on a Map

If you want to make a bluestone axe,

Go to Undarra, Uridalla or Ulladulla,

Where the flint stones fly.

Sit nice and dry

In a pleasant basalt cave,

Near Bundoora  and Bundara

To dream of Bunda people

And the dances that they made.

 

But when the “High is in the Bite”

And the big souéasters roar,

Past Perambulla and Merrimbulla.

The spanish mackeral, shoals by the score

Past the Coolangatta’s,

One in either state,

Offshore from the Barrattas,

To meet a northern winter mate.

 

Yet on the rocky river beds of

Burrabogie, Burrum Heads and Burrumbuttock

The mullet run in schools.

To the sandy mouths of Currumbin and Currumbean,

Around the peninsulas at Metung and Meanjin

Away from the watery flats of Bing Bong and Bung Bong.

 

Still further up the range

Between the mountains at Ghin Ghin and Gin Gin.

You can see the coastal plain

From Toowoomba and Twimba.

And lower down the hillsides of Towong, Tawonga and Toowong.

While inland the westerly waters run,

From Kuranda, Cowra and Cooma

The long way to the sea.

 

Before the outback sears your mind.

At Menindee and Meningie

The quiet shallow lakes

Atop and bottom, of the Murray Darling drain.

Along the bendy river you call the Murrumbidgee

There are places like Murrumbool, Murrumburrah and Murrumbeena

So pick the bend that suits you at Arramong, Durrangong, Billabong, Bogolong, Mogongong, Bungalong, Tyagong  and Gooloogong

Before relaxing on the watery stretches of Corryong and Koetong.

 

Or could you prefer

A mountain forest fair?

At Mongarlowe, Bungalowe or Buckendore

And the open pines of Kallangur and Kalingur

And if you seek meaning in this mish mash of words.

Stand with me atop,

A place in the world,

Where the crisp air holds you,

In a moment of its own.

Where nature gives you rest,

Before showing you its best.

And a single little droplet

Joins the race with all the rest.

Tumbling to Tarraleah,

Powering through the penstocks.

Tearing down Tungatinah

Sending lots and lots of volts

Powering our homes unseen.

Is there a moral to the story?

Just respect for those who came before.

And the names they left us.

So we can care,

For what others might ignore.