Monday 13 December 2010

Poinsettias

The drought has broken

Plague locusts massing

An army waiting. Biding their time

Farmers nervously watching, crops decimated if all goes as feared

Summer skies, usually blue and high, will blacken with the onslaught of flying
ravenous insects. Devouring every green thing in their path

A politician (chasing city votes) flippantly states: "They'll stop when they get to Melbourne"
as of thats ok

Glossing over the farmers' anguished loss

The scientists disagree - the suburbs will mirror the farmland, bereft of green
All will be eaten in the path of this horde

Happily the silk poinsettias in the window box survive.



More information about the Australian Plague Locust including a link to a swarm map, can be found here, and images here.

This Drabble is number 7 of 31 at the Annual Advent Calendar at The Burrow.


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4 comments:

Liza said...

Gosh, do you really get locusts there? Have never heard of them from my sister, who also lives in Victoria. I think of the things I've read of the American west in the 1800's where plagues of locusts did just as what you wrote above. The loss in crops was stunning. Here in New England, now, (well, in the Spring) we have inch worms that defolliate the trees...ugly, but manageable...Thankfully they arrive as a part of a cycle that ultimately, fades away.

Sue said...

Liza, it sounds so olde worlde doesn't it, but we certainly do. I've now added a link to some information from the Department of Primary Industries.

A friend saw a swarm a few days ago, so they're advancing as anticipated. It's a dreadful situation for the farmers, and as yet the ripple on effect (ending at goods on the supermarket shelves) doesn't seem to have received much media attention.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I thought that it was all true. I was quite terrified for you. Having read on, maybe I was right to do so.
Excellent drabble!!! Well done.

Have a nice day, Boonie

Sue said...

Boonie.Thanks!

I'm in suburbia, and they're not here yet but it's really tough for the people on the land. Drought for so many years, now the locusts, and in some parts floods as well.