I met a nice chap, Barry Maslen, in a type of hostel-hotel in Manilla, Feb. 2006, and he agreed to let me post his poem. He has others if you want to contact him. Barry has a backgroud in livestock health and export and brought purebreed cattle to Vietnam, among them a hardy breed called Droughtmasters. He told me big dairy breeds like Holsteins do not survive well in developing countries on small farms as they need so much feed-pasture. Many starve to death!

The following poem has several words particular to Australia like the famous song Waltzing Matilda.

The Min Min Light

Gliding through the bush it goes,
lighting with a ghostly glow.
Wishing wrongs were put to right,
When we see the Min Min Light.
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Bluey wimpers in the tent.
Presence seems devoid of scent.
Victor of a dozen fights
vanquished by the Min Min Light.
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Jacky knows about them all too well.
Heard about their ancient spell.
From tribal tales he can recite
The mysteries of the Min Min Light.
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Fireflies glitter that we know,
Fungus in the marches glow.
But no wonderment excites
Like the secret of the Min Min Light.
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If you heed them not, it will be well.
But do not ask where they may dwell.
For if you follow them in the night,
You will be captured by the Min Min Light.
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copyright: Barry Maslen bmaslen@hotmail.com

Barry lives part of the year on Negros Island, Philippines.

Notes: The Min Min light might be what some call marsh gas or the Will o' the Wisp. Bluey is a common name for a dog in Australia most of which are excellent stock-herding breeds. Jacky is a local name for the aboriginal people. If students like this one perhaps follow up with the lyrics of Waltzing Matilda.