banjo was there at the billabong 
he skipped across the bank
and diamonds were dancing in the very place 
the jolly swagman sank
come dangle ya feet in the pool son 
it's a joy that's hardly had
no I'll wait till we're back to the swimming pool 
no squelching of toes in mud dad

concrete! what an unwelcome form 
mausoleum crypt or drain
hard and cold unwelcoming 
nothing grows where that has lain

give me redgum amphibiosis 
whose branches reach along
to a coolibah mythical romantic dream 
that an australian made into a song
fallen branches crocodiles 
protruding leaves as frogs
the light skips over fantastic!  
to the stillness of fallen logs
the breeze stirs up a reedy chat 
and its ripples protect the jewels
and a dance done on the redgum bough 
reflects the quivering pools

banjo was here I said again 
to visitors filing past
how much further to the top? 
they had to get there fast!
come dangle those neglected white things 
at the south end of your legs
the mountain top gets closer 
once the weight is off your pegs
the billabong's a healer! 
really? I heard one say
with a knee jerk: the well of life? 
can it extend my dying day?

I dunno about that 
when you'll throw in your hat
but it seems to me, to eager ears  
if you punch and roll with the bushland
you'll get great value for your years

oh she said disappointed 
realising she was still gunna die
c'mon let's get it over with
to the summit! with a sigh
they'll probably be here I heard her say
by the time we get back down
matilda her friend would have liked to indulge
but she rolled her jeans back down
just then a hospitable wattle bird 
spake its flautish song of greetin'
hello matilda you're welcome! 
to sit on my bank with ya feet in

to come or to go is the question to know
to have less and the peace to explore
or perpetually seek all mountains that peak
and keep waltzing, matilda, for more

copyright 2003 robbo
australia's most banked poet 
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