My Australia

Suspiciously they look at me, there brows slightly raised
Another traveller faces, eyes staring back unfazed

For its question posed with my whole heart, with truthful colours shown
Australia I’m asking, what do you miss of home?

And I know I’ve hit a cord for precious few ignore me
The old friends that stemmed from strangers, that disappeared before me

Like Alex who I new once, but the kid had tales to tell
Vegemite and Cherry Ripes, oh by god he started well

With passion and a teary eye, his answer came to me
There was nothing more Australian, than a roaring MCG

Now born and raised Victorian, I’m inclined to think he’s right
Certain Clarkey would agree, with his football Friday night

And while the Sydney lads scoffed at us, with love for a different game
It appears across the country, that our Fridays are the same

Then upwards north I travelled, on Jude and Joely’s spark
For they lit up my adventure, like I’d never seen the dark

And there answer was as simple as a cup of tea and toast
For they missed the surf, the sand… that magic Aussie coast

And while it had me writing, it was John and Kate who sent the shiver
With stories of their weekends spent cruising down the river

Close to home it brought me back, to where the weeping willow’s sway
Amidst the sunset on the Murray, for the last ski of the day.

Other of course, stole by breath, for they so often spoke with grace
Like Annie who missed the open road, and Mill who missed her space

The chef who missed her Aussie food, the good kid who missed his beer
At times they were elaborate, but every single one sincere

Some were memories I’ve shared, and places I adore
Others took me across the country, to where I’ve never been before

I somehow made my way to Adelaide, for a backyard BBQ
And I sat in Ez’s local for a draft or maybe two.

And I suppose I better mention the fine girl who took me west
For somewhere across the nullabore, she snuck into my chest

And her Freo breeze put me at ease, despite the sad goodbyes
For I found myself alive, lost in familiar eyes

Yes she gave me something that I only hope I earned
For she smiled her brilliant smile and the question was returned

Tell Mr, honestly, as she put an end to this
It’s your turn at the table, what is it that you miss?

And there I sat in silence, beneath a starless sky
And with a passion you might expect, I gave her my reply

Well I love the sunburnt country, from the red centre to the coast
It’s the people and their hearts, that I no doubt miss the most

Its there humour, their humility, their refusal to complain
Its something in their make up, that’s not easy to explain.

It emerges at times unspoken, often when chips are down
Its floats through out our cities, and engulfs the country town

It’s the simple things, the complex, the small and the grand
It’s a pride that we all feel but never truly understand

It’s the bond we share regardless, not matter how far of we roam
Its Australia, it my county, my first love and my home.