20150802: My Land (cut and long version)

My Land  (Cut)

In my country, my land,

It is different here, extreme,

A place apart, unique, special.

Yes, we have blue skies, green trees,

Flowers, grasses and bees,

We also have spiders and snakes

And other nice nasties

Living together in great diversity.

A land of contrasts, my land,

A desert continent, an ancient place

with a history reaching back 

many thousand years of occupation;

in harmonious partnership, successful,

symbiotic, between flora and fauna;

man a relatively late-comer 

to its wide open spaces.

My people have shared this land, our land,

For several thousand years now;

a short period in the history of this place,

successfully sharing in its bounty,

husbanding, nurturing its resources:

in partnership with the land, comfortable:

until, just over two hundred years ago -

the invaders came. 

2 August 2015,

129 words, 24 lines 

My Land (long version) 

In my country, my land,

It is different here, extreme,

A place apart, unique, special.

Yes, we have blue skies, green trees,

Flowers, grasses and bees,

We also have spiders and snakes

And other nice nasties

Living together in great diversity.

A land of contrasts, my land,

A desert continent, an ancient place

with a history reaching back 

many thousand years of occupation;

in harmonious partnership, successful,

symbiotic, between flora and fauna;

man a relatively late-comer 

to its wide open spaces.

It is always hot here, my land

Summer is the longest season

(if one can be arbitrary about these things)

and often without any reason

other seasons may not occur -

at all, from short mild winter

to extended long dry  times

especially in the hinter land. 

It is a special place, my land.

One can even see from space

how dry and arid it can be;

how easily a fire can start -

destructive, yes, on one level. 

but necessary for much of the flora 

that needs fire to germinate its seeds: 

this seems paradoxical and extreme. 

My people have shared this land, our land,

For several thousand years now;

a short period in the history of this place,

successfully sharing in its bounty,

husbanding, nurturing its resources:

in partnership with the land, comfortable:

until, just over two hundred years ago -

the invaders came. 

2 Aug 15

227 words, 40 lines