When Phantom Koala was Young
- A Koala Saga of the Mt Warning Caldera Region, Australia, the World…….this poem is dedicated to ALL the Koalas out there, doing the “hard yards” in our “ridiculously good looking” urban, rural and recreational expansions-
When Phantom Koala was still a youth his Mother left, and said in truth “I’ll make it to the Coastal tree, the one I love to eat. Yummie!”
“I’ll stay a month, then come right back”
(little knowing “they’d” change her track).
So off she went to her favourite tree.Goodbyes to PK and his Sisters three, she’d cross through Mooball – the forests there had fragrant leaves in the cool crisp air.
Then smelling the breeze of the ocean true she’d make her way with her corridor view
to her favourite tree, and it’s leaves so rare and then she’d spend a few weeks there.
Well,
Getting there was kind of rough
but PK’s Mama was very tough.
Her was was blocked by a tall steel screen
making her travel much longer – how mean!
So when she arrived – how her body did ache
from that extra long journey those roadworks did make.
However, once climbing her favourite tree,PK’s Mama felt happy and free.
She’d catch up on news of her cousins and friends as they sampled the leaves of the fine coastal blends.
Then later, as winds shifted northern and strong,her thoughts shifted also – to where she belonged.
With her children, the ranges – of Mooball and beyond.
Her tall homeland trees of which she was fond.
She could venture home now, and “Next Year”, she thought “I’ll show PK this way, although it’s not short.He can sample the trees of the coastal wetland and meet all his cousins – it will be really grand!”
Then sadly she found she was hopelessly caught.The route to her homeland was suddenly fraught
with DANGER – more FENCES – MACHINERY too……
PK’s Mama thought “Oh now what to do?”
SHe wandered for ages – for weeks up and down.
Running from people and dogs from a town.
She lost herself twice as she struggled to find
a way back to her hills and away from this bind.
So long did she struggle to find her way home,twice fleeing from males – big Koalas – so strong.
Blocked off from her country to which she belonged. Long nights did she call for her dear PK boy……
Then one winter’s night she heard an
“AHOY”
It was PK – her son but he sounded afar
Across the deep void of the roadway and tar.
He’d travelled some distance, to find her but then
the big roadway stopped him at a small shady glen,
So climbing heroically tall tree tops there
He heard his Mama through the clear coastal air
as she called out his name. They both ran to their fence.
Lives divided by wire, trucks and our “commonsense”.
So now that this epic resolves, I’ll show you
that PK and his Mother are still in the View,
but severity lingers with human road-forms
and houses, developments – all of our “norms”,
That split our dear HERO from his MOTHER in space.
And tho’ time heals his woes, no one argues his case.
Pk’s winter retreats to talk with his Mom
revive all his feeling of how she’s not “home”.
He’d share all his stories to those with an ear,
those people who’d see that it’s wrong just to “clear”.
Building fences and roadways to imprison his friends
(to Pk it seems that this pace knows no ends)
Yet in quiet midnight hours of his winter retreat…
His talks with his Mother – of memories sweet….
YET – NEVER to touch her, nor sit with her close.
BIG ROADS AND BIG FENCES – they do more than you suppose!
When Phantom Koala was still a youth,
his Mother left and said in truth
“I’ll make it to the Coastal tree, the one I love to eat. Yummie!”
“I’ll stay a month, then come right back” (little knowing “they’d” change her track).
So off she went to her favourite tree.Goodbyes to PK and his Sisters three, she’d cross through Mooball – the forests there had fragrant leaves in the cool crisp air. Then smelling the breeze of the ocean true she’d make her way with her corridor view to her favourite tree, and it’s leaves so rare and then she’d spend a few weeks there.
Well,
Getting there was kind of rough
but PK’s Mama was very tough.
Her way was blocked by a tall steel screen
making her travel much longer – how mean!
So when she arrived – how her body did ache
from that extra long journey those roadworks did make.
However, once climbing her favourite tree,PK’s Mama felt happy and free. She’d catch up on news of her cousins and friends as they sampled the leaves of the fine coastal blends.
Then later, as winds shifted northern and strong,her thoughts shifted also – to where she belonged. With her children, the ranges – of Mooball and beyond. Her tall homeland trees of which she was fond.
She could venture home now, and “Next Year”, she thought “I’ll show PK this way, although it’s not short.He can sample the trees of the coastal wetland and meet all his cousins – it will be really grand!”
But sadly she found she was hopelessly caught. The route to her homeland was suddenly fraught
with DANGER – more FENCES – MACHINERY too……
PK’s Mama thought “Oh now what to do?”
She wandered for ages – for weeks up and down.
Running from people and dogs from a town.
She lost herself twice as she struggled to find
a way back to her hills and away from this bind.
So long did she struggle to find her way home,twice fleeing from males – big Koalas – so strong. Blocked off from her country to which she belonged.
Long nights did she call for her dear PK boy……
Then one winter’s night she heard an
“AHOY”
It was PK – her son but he sounded afar
Across the deep void of the roadway and tar.
He’d travelled some distance, to find her but then
the big roadway stopped him at a small shady glen,
So climbing heroically tall tree tops there, he heard his Mama through the clear coastal air as she called out his name. They both ran to their fence.
Lives divided by wire, trucks and our “commonsense”.
So now that this epic resolves, I’ll show you that PK and his Mother are still in the View, but severity lingers with human road-forms and houses, developments – all of our “norms”, that split our dear HERO from his MOTHER in space. And tho’ time heals his woes, no one argues his case.
Pk’s winter retreats to talk with his Mom revive all his feeling of how she’s not “home”.
He’d share all his stories to those with an ear, those people who’d see that it’s wrong just to “clear”.
Building fences and roadways to imprison his friends (to Pk it seems that this pace knows no ends)
Yet in quiet midnight hours of his winter retreat…
His talks with his Mother – of memories sweet….
YET – NEVER to touch her, nor sit with her close.
BIG ROADS AND BIG FENCES – they do more than you suppose!
if you want to find out How Phantom Koala earned his “Hero” status, by travelling to find his mother who had become trapped in Kings forest on the Tweed Coast of NE NSW, Australia, read the second Koala poem about him at bluecray.org – “There is a Way“
