CHARITY
SHOULD BEGIN AT HOME
Clearly Charity
and Drought are two words that don’t seem to fit together,
Especially
here, where the government doesn’t seem to care about the weather.
But
Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines sees four million dollars in aid,
While
here the hard working rural battlers never seem to make the grade.
With all
their dams going dry, they daily pull cattle from the bogs,
Every
night recorded in their diaries more heart break is logged.
Whatever
happened to the old saying of `Charity beginning at home, `
Canberra
turns its back and says `the bush must make a go of it alone. `
When
stations have to buy feed and water the dollars soon run out,
But rarely
do we see assistance for those that battle drought.
Orphaned
calves surround the homestead; they bellow pitifully for a feed,
A heifer
here, a bull calf there, and defeat their owner will not concede.
Weary
eyes are bloodshot they can no longer shed a tear, hope is all but lost,
Strength
of will and character is dying, when will the final line be crossed?
Every day
a struggle; hoping that the weather pendulum will swing,
Drought,
seven letters is a most insidious, heart breaking thing.
So come
on Canberra it’s time for you to look after the people of the land,
And forget
all this overseas aid; you know it’s time you took a stand.
Imagine
if you will how much hay a million dollars could supply,
We have a
catastrophe on our doorstep this you surely can’t deny.
When you
politicians sit down for a meal spare a thought from whence it came,
The
calloused hands, the tired eyes, the stooped back; yes farmer is their name.
They are
proud but almost broken; drought has bought them to their knees,
Now is
the time for our government to help and to listen to their pleas.
© Corin Linch 10/1/2014
