Jacko Dale

On the Howqua River
Stepped over the ridge,
seen the flowing waters.
Knew he’d found a place
to rest his legs,
roll out his swag
above the water.

Dropped it high above the flood lines,
while in his head,
he drew his fire pit.
Using the rocks over there,
giving him a place
to call home tonight.

As the sun began to disappear,
he collected firewood to last the night,
setting up the ring of stones—
rocks to keep him warm,
during a cold high-country night.

He filled the billy
for morning tea,
or to put the fire out.
Or, if strangers turn up,
he can boil them a cup of tea.

Stars start to reach out,
the moon is lazy on this night.
On the Howqua River,
in Victoria’s High Country.

Set the rod for breaky in the morning,
sat it on the bank
ready to cast in.
He’s hoping to catch
a trout this morning—
or it’s a can of Spam again.

After three days in the bush,
feeling a little spammed out,
a trout would go down well.

As he crawls into his swag,
he mumbles these words:
"After three days in the bush,
feeling a little spammed out,
a trout would go down well.
A trout would go..."

The dream tonight:
A trout would go down well.

Sun’s coming down,
Light grows dimmer,
Traffic slowing,
Tips closing the gates,
Cement works not sending them out,
Just crawling back in—
The empty oversize,
Over‑mass vehicles
All rolling home
From carrying
Those giant wind turbines,
Pilot cars still in pursuit.

I head out,
The yard just
on yonder
to the fire pit,
For a few coldies for the night.

Crossing to the pit,
I hear the road trains
revving up,
Taking their loads
down the Hamilton Highway.

Did they hear about the elephants—
Stampede from Mount Elephant,
Tore the Highway clean apart.
Gotta dodge a few holes,
And don’t go past
the Elephant Hotel
without a beer.
Check the roads, mate.

As I write,
Merve calls in for a beer,
Around the fire pit.
Johnny not far behind,
Another drink at the pit
In Fyansford,
Along the Hamilton Highway.

Praying for the drivers
heading up from Fyansford,
Down the Hamilton Highway,
Down the Hamilton Highway.

As we share the week’s noise,
A road train pulls in—
Brakes screaming loud.
We all look up.

It’s a Mack,
Johnny shouts.
Old Jerry steps down,
Comes running over.

“I seen them!” he yells.
“Seen the Elephant!
They tore the roads up
near the Rokewood pub.
I was called in there for dinner—
Floored the Mack,
Couldn’t believe
what I dodged.
All over the road to Fyansford,
Road torn to bits.
Nobody believed me,
So I drove straight here
to see my mates,
Who know I don’t lie,
To tell the Elephant tale—
The crushed road,
The potholes
only an Elephant could make.
For God’s sake,
give me a beer!
Give me a bed—
Tomorrow I’ve gotta go,
Gotta head to Hamilton
via the Hamilton Highway.”

Leesa is her name, Friendly lass she is. Pity she's a work mate,
For I made a rule, I won't go out with work mates, Work mate's, I won't go out with. What do I do now? For I made a rule.
She is a beauty, With a body you just want to hold on too, Embrace all night.
I must be a fool, A fool hiding behind a Rule, For who would let Leesa go, Let Leesa pass by on you?
She is a beauty, With that smiling face, Oh those stunning eyes, Can't let her go on bye,
For I made a rule, I won't go out with work mate's, Work mate's, I won't go out with. What do I do now? For I made a rule.
She's a game player, Enjoys a good time, Knows how to rev you up, With those wandering hands, What hasn't she got?
Maybe, rules, Just can't be applied, With Leesa as a work mate
She likes to club it, When she's got the time, With a drink in between songs.
Rules were, Written to be broken, Just can't be applied, With Leesa as a work mate. This time

Sounds jumping out and about, The loudest get repeated, Highest heard, first. Lowest, Lost in the noise.
A baby cries, Sound so loud, All hear it, Across the woods. All hear the little heart Screaming out. We rush to see, To protect. A baby crying hits our heart, Unlike the popular noise.
Loudest Ain’t like a baby; It’s what is mostly spoken about, Not even right, Just the number one In the popular charts today.
Could become Your popular rule tomorrow. A post by a crazy today Could become a rule for tomorrow. If it is popular noise, AI could suggest it is fact Tomorrow.
Watch for popular noise, Protect tomorrow. Protect tomorrow.
AI could suggest it is fact Tomorrow,
AI could suggest it is fact Tomorrow