Poem "Ode to Carnarvon Gorge" by Cliff Dunbar
24 November 2003
In May Cliff was Queensland bound,
to visit places he had not yet found.
On Saturday it was early out of bed.
For on this day, his love had said,
to drive you to Hornsby is my treat.
I?ll take you to the bus you meet.
We travel north through fields so green
the most verdant beauty I have ever seen,
Past the Brothers Mountains, their tops so high,
with timbered slopes bold against the sky.
For lunch we stopped at Macquarie Port,
To eat the lunch our host had brought.
On the river bank we had our lunch pack.
It was not a sandwich, nor a snack.
But a gourmet salad, complete with meat.
A worthy luncheon , quite a treat.
With the Hastings river on our right,
We head West to see the sight
of lush green valleys and forests tall.
But alas, we do not hear the Bell-bird?s calL
We sleep that night in Tamworth City,
I?m alone in my room, that?s a pity.
But soon it is another day,
And after breakfast we are on our way.
Wc take the road that leads North West
To places where the cotton grows best.
The land is flat, not a hill in sight
Water ahead, is that right?
It is a mirage, an optical illusion.
What?s on the ground is just a delusion1
The trees we see in this land so far,
are Wilga and Pine, Box and BeIah.
Beside the road some sunflowers bloom,
their yellow heads need lots of room.
Trucks carry cotton along this road,
And they line it?s edge with part of their load.
At Mungindi where our lunch we ate.
We crossed the border to the Sunshine State.
North to St George is where the Mulga does grow.
It?s an outback tree, that we all do know.
That spiky plant is prickly pear.
Once a threat to the land that we all do share.
But a beetle was found to stop its spread.
For it ate this plant that the farmers dread,
Across the plains we have sped this day,
and we think of home so far away.
At a Roma rnote1 we spend the night
and start next day feeling very bright.
The bottle tree in Roma does grow.
It holds no water, if you didn?t know.
But it?s shapely form looks so neat,
planted in rows along the street.
It is Monday morning and we are on our way
to Carnarvon Gorge where we will stay.
For many days it?s sights we?ll see.
A most lovely place for us to be.
It?s white escarpments are a sight,
with the sun upon them they are so bright.
We saw some Brolgas and Emus, too,
And a group of seven kangaroo.
At noon we arrive at the Oasis Resort.
It is even better than what I thought.
The cabins in which we stay are unique,
part cabin and part tent, so to speak.
A buffet lunch is a treat for us
and well fed we board the Oasis bus.
It take us to where we cross the creek
for the sights of splendor which we seek.
We are off to see the Gardens of Moss,
the trouble was the Creek we cross.
It was running deep from the rain,
and we had to cross it again and again.
For the stepping stones are in water deep.
To walk upon then does wet our feet.
It also wets our boots and socks,
when we tread upon those covered rocks.
We did not reach the place where we should go
For so many Creek crossings made it so slow.
On Tuesday morn we did walk once more,
and crossed this Creek times twenty four.
The native race, who did long depart.
Put paint on rock that we call art.
But it was not put there for us to see.
For it is to record their history.
Along the track tall grass did grow,
and the Zamia cycads made quite a show.
And we would detour to the right or left,
to visit a sight or a deep rock cleft1
The Amphitheatre with cliffs so high,
closed us in but we could see the sky.
And to reach this place I do recall.
We climbed a ladder 10 metres tall.
On Wednesday, my boots are dry once more.
They will stay that way you can be sure.
One Creek to cross, but I did chose
to wet my feet but not my shoes.
Then it?s all up hill to Boolimba Bluff
The track is steep, but not too rough.
From the top you can see below
the camp site where the others go.
Views superb from left to right.
The sandstone cliffs are quite a sight.
The Creek is hidden amongst the trees,
but upon top we can feel the breeze.
For the air is cool where the view is grand.
I know not wherc there is a better land.
I eat my lunch at this fantastic place,
then go down the hill at my slow pace.
For the group have gone and I chose to stay
and sit a while to enjoy this day.
If it?s scenic beauty or solitude you seek1
Then take a Thursday walk along the Mickcy Creek.
Among the gums and palms named Cabbage Tree,
It?s an easy track, that?s how it ought to be.
The gurgle of the Creek is music to my ear.
For now 1 sit upon a rock so glad that I am here.
For I feel at peace in this bushland place.
These many days far from the city?s frantic pace.
Through natures scenic wonders we did roam
But on Friday, alas, we head for home
and stay the night at Dalby, one of the towns
on the way to Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.
Then to Armidale on the New England Highway.
Then on Sunday it?s home at the end of the day.
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