Dear Fractelle,

Some words stick like burrs and punish
at a touch. Some become soiled with
improper use, some remain forever
unspoken, clamped in a throat that aches
to let them out.
And there are others that heal the heart.
These are the most meaningful of all.

Thank You for being so consistent in your posts
by always contributing with meaningful words.
The poem was wonderful!

Dear Houellie,

Inside you are more possibilities than you could
possibly use up in one lifetime.

Therefore - it's a shame that you can't seem to muster
your own courage and take pride in your wonderful
intelligence - and display some of it - to us on OLO.
Simply continuing to poke and stir at people
- doesn't demean anyone else, except yourself.

Dear Shadow Minister,

We need new ways of thinking to cope with the nuclear age.
We need world leaders who are concerned for the human
condition, who realize the horrific reality of nuclear arms,
and can nerve us to build an alternative future.

If by giving the US President the Nobel Peace Prize - this
will have a positive effect towards building that
alternative future - then surely it will be worth it.

I remember a children's picture book written by Rod Trinca and
Kerry Argent called, "One Woolly Wombat," which teaches
children how to count, and presents a nursery rhyme about
cute Australian animals:

"One woolly wombat sunning by the sea
two cuddly koalas sipping gumnut tea
three warbling magpies waking in the sun
four thumping kangaroos dancing just for fun
five pesky platypuses splashing with their feet
six cheeky possums looking for a treat
seven emus running...in and out the bush
eight spiky echidnas eating ants - whoosh
nine hungry goannas wondering what to cook
ten giggly kookaburras writing riddle books
eleven dizzy dingoes twirling with their paws
twelve crazy cockatoos counting on their claws
thirteen hopping mice picking desert pea
fourteen slick seals sailing out to sea."

Cont'd ...

Cont'd ...

Philip Neilsen took this firm favourite of children's
rhymes and using the same rhythm and language,
presented us with a slightly different version, by
displacing the subject, the poet tried to make
readers take a second look at something we take for
granted, by placing it in a new context, in this case,
the effect of a nuclear blast in Australia. He called
his poem, "Bush Lullaby," the title is well chosen,
except in this case the sleep is not sweet:

"Bush Lullaby,"

"One cackling kookaburra swept from the trees
Two uneasy emus brought to their knees

Three bustling bandicoots deafened by the sound
Four waddling wombats burnt underground

Five writhing ringtails sliced into meat
Six crisp koalas toasted by the heat

Seven tangled taipans dissected on the grass
Eight playful platypuses melted smooth as glass

Nine crippled kangaroos, mutant crow and currawong
Ten million jolly swagmen floating in the billabong."