in drowsy repose
a band of bulbous grey clouds
hung over the bush

soil within your loam
a harvest of food you hold
our table you furnish

we're grateful to you
for the bounty you provide
elements of grace

praise be to the soil
we've eaten of daily bread
a repast you gave

winter cocooned
the colorful buds of spring
in a white cladding

soft beams of moonlight
mingled midst the forest canopy
twas a lovely sight

the rain's damp streaming tendrils
caressed the dry landscape
with a kindly moistening
to revive its soils

o'er the black sea sky
a huge silvery moon sailed
throughout the long night

one's shadow
is one's best friend
it's constantly there
until the end

it's the best friend
one ever possesses
and of its owner
it never second guesses

so be glad it sticks
so reliably close
one's shadow
one's best leaning post

pets are hours of fun, feathered finned and furry ones
pets are hours of fun, feathered finned and furry ones
their antics do amuse, owners love them to bits
their antics do amuse, owners love them to bits
owners love them to bits, feathered finned and furry ones
their antics do amuse, pets are hours of fun

**** playing with a skein of wool, Rufus chasing his tail
**** playing with a skein of wool, Rufus chasing his tail
their capers never fail to get a laugh, what a show he puts on
their capers never fail to get a laugh, what a show he puts on
what a show he puts on, Rufus chasing his tail
**** playing with a skein of wool, their capers never fail to get a laugh

behind the air filter goldfish dart, such a jovial spectacle
behind the air filter goldfish dart, such a jovial spectacle
budgerigar hop scotching on her perch, they're natural born entertainers
budgerigar hop scotching on her perch, they're natural born entertainers
budgerigar hop scotching on her perch, behind the air filter goldfish dart
such a jovial spectacle, they're natural born entertainers

they're natural born entertainers, feathered finned and furry ones
their antics do amuse, pets are hours of fun
budgerigar hop scotching on her perch, **** playing with a skein of wool
behind the air filter goldfish dart, Rufus chasing his tail
such a jovial spectacle, what a show they put on
their antics never fail to get a laugh, owners love them to bits

down by the river
a public house once stood
it attracted a clientele
from the town's neighborhoods

the oversees and laborers
would whet their whistles
after a big day working
amid the scrub and the saffron thistles

on the afternoon
of September ninth 1932
in the pub's kitchen
a fire did brew

the flue of the Metters stove
caught alight
which made the cook
scream in fright

from the bar the proprietor
ran at speed
to bucket water
on the flame's greed

town's folk tuned up
with hessian bags
to stub out the embers
that were raging in the building's rags

but their efforts to contain
the fire were all in vain
the watering hole was consumed
by the fast pace of the flammable bane

at the rear of the pub
a charred body was found
he'd not escaped
the flares which did surround

the itinerant bur cutter's
ghost loitered at the pub's site for many a year
he'd appear on nights
when the skies were darkened in drear

the fire at the drinker's establishment
is still spoken of in town
that fateful day the hotel's stove
burnt the drinker's house down

on studying
my cover picture this morn
something in my mind
suddenly dawned
five faces stood out
amid the mired shroud
their eyes stared out
from a cloud
I'd not noticed
these five faces before
yet this day they've entered
through my mind's door

the sun's shining beams
did burnish the bushland stream
in a glossy gleam

dreaming of a beach-side holiday
I'll get there by next month's end
to but feel the sea's cooling spray  

an east breeze in the harbor's bay
floating softly about a coastal rend
dreaming of a beach-side holiday

sandcastles on the shore shall array
taking a walk by rocky ledge bend
to but feel the sea's cooling spray

sandpiper wings e'er fluttering away
twill be a relaxing time to expend
dreaming of a beach-side holiday

a time to enjoy waves in a blue cay
tasting the freshness of an ocean friend
to but feel the sea's cooling spray

the salty brine doth beckon a stay
if only this locale I could apprehend
dreaming of a beach-side holiday
to but feel the sea's cooling spray

lasting till eternity
lasting in adversity
lasting is the love
we'll share

through the four seasons
of the year
our love has always lasted
my dear

our hearts hath entwined
in an everlasting bind
our love is of a special kind
and it shall ne'er be undermined

the gift of love
is our refrain
for us this love
twas preordained

and when the light of life dims
our love shall echo to infinity
it shall last forever
a love of lasting amity

lasting till eternity
lasting in adversity
lasting is the love
we'll share

the bitters of winter
                      hath called this very day
                               upon tender shoots of grass
                                                        its coldness did lay

 an icy unpleasantness
                            which remorselessly kills
                                               whatever lies under
                                                                ­   its acrid chill

winter shall reign over
                      these parts for many a day
                                               and its frosty cover
                                                               shall have its willful way

the warming feel of summer
                        gone for some while
                                        replaced by winter's
                                                           harsh freezing bile

mile on mile traveled, the path of life
mile on mile traveled, the path of life
encountering much along the way, events stored in memory
encountering much along the way, events stored in memory
mile on mile traveled, events stored in memory
the path of life, encountering much along the way

to again see the past, reviewing what has occurred
to again see the past, reviewing what has occurred
the good things and the dad, all that we've done
the good things and the bad, all that we've done
reviewing what has happened, the good things and bad
to again see the past, all that we've done

in times of reflective thought, snap shots are relived
in times of reflective thought, snap shots are relived
the days when we were younger, way back then
the days when we were younger, way back then
snaps shots are relived, the days when we were younger
way back then, in times of reflective thought  

in times of reflective thought, the path of life  
snaps shots are relived, encountering much along the way
reviewing what has occurred, the days when we were younger
mile on mile traveled, way back then
to again see the past, all that we've done
events stored in the memory, the good things and the bad

with cigarette slouching
from the side of his gob  
he looked much like a bloke
I knew in Iron ****