Carmel - A Poem
By Edwina Smith
I like the heat
Freezing nights too
Clear cloudless skies
Stars blinking through
Grant me a wilderness
So desolate and dry
That echoes in its silence
For every passer-by
Don’t mind the wind
Wailing over dunes
Howling through canyons
Whistling eerie tunes
This is my place
But never once alone
For thousands of years
The desert’s been my home
Not a fussy eater
But know where to look
I can eat plants
Which make others really crook
My soft lips of velvet
Take thistle, thorn or prickle
Nibble away without delay
The spikes barely tickle
For those who believe
My hump’s a jerrycan
Allow me to explain
Why that’s not the plan
‘Tis a store made of fat
To draw when times are tough
Making energy and water
And if that’s not enough
I recycle vapour
Back along my nose
A clever way to sort
And solve my water woes
Long and steady legs
Cut distance every stride
Feet fit for trekking
Won’t split, sink or slide
No matter the terrain
Hills, rock or sand
We will travel on
Across the desert land
My eyes have luscious lashes
A face which shows a grin
I can shut my nostrils
Stops sand from getting in
Strong, tough and hardy
They say we are all three
Made for desert life
As was meant to be
We are not native
To this country known as Oz
Shipped from foreign lands
You ask ‘why?’ Because
A way of transport needed
To open outback land
What else could ever cope
With vast and scorching sand?
Those that came before me
Carried heavy loads
Supplies to outback stations
Before there were roads
Who would take this on?
Most would be in tears
Here come the experts
The Afghan cameleers!
Giving hope to farmers
Be it sheep or cattle station
With each determined stride
Help build and feed our nation
Pulling wagon loads of wool
Tools for outback mines
Flour, sugar, mail
Sprouting telegraph lines
This beast unfamiliar
Most stockmen never knew
Apart from horse or cow
They didn’t have a clue
About this foreign fauna
And how we feel and think
Only that we walk
For days without a drink
They came from overseas
With skills on how to drive
Camels in the desert
And how to survive
Their charges sometimes wilful
May swerve, kick or bite
With patience, calm and respect
Made sure we had no fright
Bringing precious cargo
They did what they must
And greatness was achieved
By gaining their camels’ trust
Being part of our history
Camels and their master
Today some prefer
To go a little faster
From Adelaide to Darwin
In comfort ‘air-con’ brings
Behold the Red Centre
With a stop in Alice Springs!
A logo carried proud
Both camel and a man
The journey carries on
By train called ‘The Ghan’.
Now in modern times
Trekking is the same
A star of the caravan
Carmel is my name
Should you long for change
The desert still endures
Come and see its beauty
With ‘Parched Throat’ outback tours!
Ah! Here’s my rider
Looks a nervous wreck
‘Is she tame?’ ‘What’s her name?’
And bravely strokes my neck
He’s from town, will settle down
As I rock, roll and sway
All in line with my friends
And we’ll be on our way.
1 comment
Hi everyone, my name is Edwina Smith and I am a retired nurse/midwife. I enjoy writing poems that have animals as the central character. When I decided to write about a camel, I had very little knowledge about this wonderful animal and how they are so well adapted to desert life. I also learned about their role in opening up outback Australia. I can only imagine how much those people looked forward to the arrival of the camel trains. The skill of the Afghan Cameelers must be admired to this day. As for ‘Carmel’ she is a very quiet natured camel who takes very good care of her nervous riders from the city. I would like to say how much I enjoyed writing this poem and would like to give special thanks to Kate Bennie. I wish her and her team at Summerland Camels all the best. Kind regards. Edwina Smith