The Poet Tree

Jody woke up on her 10^th birthday, jumped out of bed and hurried to get dressed. She rushed down to her kitchen, eager to open her presents.

Her mum was there packing food into a backpack. ‘Good morning my love,’ said Mum. ‘Happy birthday!’ Jody’s mum came over and gave her a big hug. ‘I bet you want to see what I got you for a birthday present, don’t you?’

‘Yes please!’ squeeled Jody.

‘I have something very special for you today. It is your 10^th birthday and it is time for you to go on your first walkabout.’

‘Where do I have to go?’ asked Jody, feeling a sliver of excitement ripple through her soul.

‘It is time for you to find the Poet Tree,’ explained Mum.

‘The Poet Tree? Where is it?’ asked Jody.

‘You will find it outback, in the bush.’

‘Great! Can we go now?’ Jody rushed to the door.

‘No, my love. I cannot go with you. You must find the Poet Tree on your own. I have packed your bag with lots of water and some food because it may take longer than you expect. Also, here is a mobile phone. If you get into trouble dial 112 whether you have reception or not. Someone will come and get you.’

‘It sounds scary Mum.’

‘You will be fine, but you must go. Everybody needs to find their Poet Tree and it is your turn now. Remember, I am always here for you no matter how dark or scary it gets - and don’t forget to share the fun and the beautiful with me too! Take a pen and notebook and write everything down so we can share when you get back.’ Jody’s mum gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek before ushering her out the back door.

Without knowing quite

  where she was going,

    Jody started walking down

       the long, winding red dirt

         road and heading for the silver

       green leaves clustered in

     the distance. She pulled

  out a banana from her

     backpack and munched

          on it as she trod, careful

              to make sure she had the

                  energy for this curious trek

                     her mum was sending her on.

Eventually Jody came to the edge of the scrub when she heard a booming voice.

           Hello there pretty lady.

           Excited to meet you.

           Look in here, where it’s shady.

           Let’s see what you’re up to…

           Oy!

‘Oh, hello. My name is Jody and I am looking for the Poet Tree.’

Well, Why didn’t you sAy so from the start?

              This wallaby Can guide you in this part.

       Behind the bottlebRush up ahead

                    Over the lOgs and the shrubs lying dead

                            Now Stick to the path for your safety’s sake

                             And Travel with care for there lies a snake

         You’ll come to a rIver, or maybe a stream

                               ReCover a bit, take some time to dream

‘Thank you very much, Mr Wallaby. I’ll be on my way now as I suspect I have a very long journey ahead.’

Off Jody went, carefully sticking to the path when suddenly she heard an eager voice bouncing off the tree tops.

               Oy!      Oy!

            Hello.    Hello,

          hello. I heard what                                  

 my cousin the wallaby said

to you and he was not quite                    right. Well. He’s

         a wallaby, isn’t he? It’s not like they ever get things right.

                Not known for it really. Not right in the head that lot,

    now are they? I’m his cousin but I live in trees. It’s warmer

     up here. Safer too. I like a good eucalypt I do. Gum trees

    are light and airy. Lots of paper bark to cling to and the scent keeps

        my nostrils clear. Know what I mean? Anyway, let’s move onto

                 concrete things, eh? Wallaby sent you to the and he was

                 right, but you need a Kangaroo to get the details right.

                Specifically, a tree kangaroo. That’s me, that is. I’m little

 but I’m lithe and I am here to tell you to get off the track and head

 to the left. The left I say! There is the centre and then there is the

left of

centre

and that’s

where

you’ll

find your river of dreams, eh?

‘Going of the straight and narrow seems very scary to me,’ worried Jody, ‘but you seem friendly so I will trust you.’

And so Jody stepped off the beaten path and headed into the scrubby underbrush, pushing past thorns and brambles.

Just as she was starting to feel tired and sweaty Jody found herself in a grove of beautiful red kangaroo paws and as she looked beyond the flowers she saw a dry river bed. Disappointed, she sat down to take a long drink from her water bottle and eat her sandwich because she was very hungry and thirsty from all her walking.

Jody noticed movement in the kangaroo paws and she slowly and quietly put the drink bottle and the sandwich wrapper in her back pack. She didn’t want to alarm whatever was lurking amidst the beautiful flora.

Something very much resembling a duck beak appeared, but it was low on the ground. Very odd for a duck! Then a paw with sharp claws came through before the oddest animal Jody had ever seen emerged. It was a platypus!

Haiku along now

Dallying here will not help

Find the Poet Tree

Jody jumped up, a little bit scared at the abrupt manner of the platypus. ‘Yes, you’re right but I don’t know where to go from here.’

Follow the creek bed

There’s a creature with a pea

He will be of help

Pulling her socks up and putting on her backpack, Jody grumbled to herself about bossy marsupials who talk in riddles and don’t reveal all the truth. Eventually though, she took deep breath and followed the dry river bed which led to an even drier vista.

Orange earth reflected the heat of the searing sun, yet amidst the baked earth and shimmering heat (luckily her mum packed a hat too!) there were beautiful clusters of Sturt Desert Peas, their beautiful visage piercing her with their black-eyed gaze. At their feet was a nosey wombat, sniffling away at piles of his own droppings.

Well, well pretty girl, now why are you here?

A couplet of animals it seems we appear.

‘Hello Mr Wombat. Ms Platypus said you would be able to help me.’

Maybe I could. It’s possibly true.

What is this thing you want me to do?

‘I am looking for the Poet Tree.’

Oh dear, oh my, there’s some way to go.

Head for the sea for those in the know.

With that the wombat waddled into his burrow and left poor Jody alone and a little bit sad. The sea was so far away from this hot, arid place. ‘Still,’ she thought to herself, ‘I won’t get anywhere if I don’t put one foot in front of the other.’ So, taking another swig of water, off she went and headed into the breeze because she could smell the salty brine in the air.

It took a while, and her shoes had lots of little stones stuck in the tread of the soles, but eventually she found herself wading through golden sand and hearing the lapping of wavelets as they hit the beach.

Ready for another snack, Jody perched under the shade of a glorious golden wattle before pulling out an orange to savour. As she peeled back the skin and the juice rolled across her fingers, she saw a very friendly fish the same colour as her fruit pop it’s head up out of the water.

‘Hello clown fish! Can you tell me where I can find the Poet Tree?’

Indeed I can, but you’ll need some help.

It’s hard to find on your own.

Walk along this beach, avoid the kelp

And take the rubbish that’s thrown.

You’ve come too far in your quest today,

The Tree doesn’t like this salt.

Yes, hurry along and make no delay,

Your quest comes near to its halt.

You need to get right on it.

Tarry not for this sonnet!

‘Alright! Alright! I’m going! Just let me pick up these peelings and put them in my pack.’ Jody got up and brushed the sand off her clothes. Then she picked up the orange peels and put them in her bag before walking to the water’s edge. As she lent down to wash her hands in the gentle surf she thanked the clown fish for her help and advice and then Jody headed away from the beach and back into the scrub.

Shortly Jody found herself in a Waratah grove when suddenly she heard a gravelly voice which seemed to come from below. Caught off balance, Jody fell backwards. Luckily, she landed on her backpack so she wasn’t hurt. As she sat upright she looked around to find herself staring straight into the eyes of the scariest thorny devil she had ever seen.

Missy, missy, missy,

You missed me you know.

I was almost smooshed -

Mooshed -

Kaput!

You nearly did me in.

Oh, don’t speak.

I know why you’re here.

I know things…

I know many things.

I know things you will never know.

I know things you will never want to know!

And I know the thing you seek.

‘I am so sorry Mr Devil! I was focussing on where I was trying to get to and I forgot to look where I currently am!’

The folly of youth

You bear well for your age.

You speak in free verse,

Free words.

Free thinking

Unconstrained by time and tide,

By pain or love -

Your soul is smooth to the touch.

Go to the Poet Tree.

You will find yourself.

You will find others.

You will laugh and cry.

You will scream in fear and gasp in awe.

It is not far now.

‘Thank you for telling me that. I am getting very tired and the day is wearing on. It is supposed to be my birthday but so far it has been very hard work!’ And so, Jody ventured onward again.

The Waratah gave way to the lush spines of golden banksia which ringed a mighty tree. Jody stopped in her tracks and gasped in awe. In front of her stood a tree as old as time, as tall as the heavens, with roots sinking into the earth’s core. A rainbow of colours stirred into fireworks as the leaves rustled in the swirling breeze.

Jody threw down her back pack and ran to the tree. She stretched her arms around the mighty trunk, drinking in the earthy odours and feeling the bark press into her fleshy cheek.

As she stood there a mottled grey koala climbed down beside her, handed her a seed and stared deep into her eyes, examining Jody’s soul.

You are young girl. Your life will be filled. Your life will be filled with poet trees of all kinds. This is your first Poet Tree – but there are many to come. Many poetries. Your life will be full. It will fill. With poems. With prose. With prose poems. With song and with dance. Your life will be full. And sad. And sweet. There will be love and there will be pain. You will be filled with knowledge and starving with ignorance. And in all this, you will sing your song. You will tell your story. You will grow your very own. Your very own Poet Tree.

Jody closed her eyes, trying to imagine all these wondrous things the Koala was telling her.

A sudden noise jolted her eyes open. Wait! Where was the tree? The koala. Her mum hovered over the bed with a breakfast tray.

‘Wake up, sleepy head. Happy birthday! Eat your breakfast and then come on down. Your presents are waiting for you in the kitchen.’

‘You already gave me the best present ever, Mum.’

‘What are you talking about Jody?’

‘I found the Poet Tree!’

Jody’s mum smiled a little quizzically as she left the room. ‘That is great. Now enjoy your breakfast and come down when you’re ready.’

Jody looked down at the seed lying in her palm.

END