THE HILL

                          Remove the dark thoughts from your mind
                          You may join me if you will
                          To visit the ancient spirits
                          That reside up on the hill.

              There are spirits here, on the hill. Well, its not much of a hill really. About one hundred feet high, with steep rocky approaches to two sides, a gradual slope from another and the boundary fence staggers across the higher part. There is always an aura of peace and tranquility up there. Scrubby pine trees, boxthorn and large gum trees make a variety of sheltered clearings. My chainsaw doesn't work well on the hill, but is fine anywhere else. I guess the spirits don't like the noise. The old four wheel drive Land Cruiser bumps its way over rocks on the track that were not there last time.

                        There are no signs of artifacts,
                        No rock paintings or such things,
                        Yet I feel the spirits up here;
                        They are pulling on my strings.

            I am permitted to drive along the fence line, checking for fallen trees, broken wires , but find driving elsewhere a real chore. Logs, rocks and detours are forever appearing  from nowhere. The actual soil is no good for farming, too many rocks, too many trees and, of course, too rough. Yet, I can walk comfortably from one clearing to the next with ease. It's quiet and not unusual to find a few contented cows having a siesta with the 'roos and wallabies in amongst the trees. Even my three dogs are accepted as if they were born here.

                      The clay soil's no good for farming
                      Outcropping rocks and trees galore,
                      With lovely grassy meadows
                      Like I've never seen before.

          There are no artifacts from ancient cultures, no rock paintings, no stone tools or weapons or any signs of human habitation at all. There are snakes, lizards and a wide variety of birds. I am wrapped in peace up here, the troubles of the world cease to exist for a time. I feel I am in another world. Then I look through the gaps between the trees; there below is the line of trees marking the river, the old homestead, or  just the cultivation paddocks.

                      The clearings are so well sheltered
                      That birds and wildlife call them home,
                      Scrubby bushes and tall gum trees
                      Form a good protective dome.

          The hill being the highest point of the farm means that  most of the farm can be seen in snippets through various gaps between the trees, etc. It's quite wonderful spending time up here, just wandering from one clearing to another and letting the mind be free. Free to dream, to ponder the progress of  mankind, the colours of the birds or perhaps, the next story to write. I believe the spirits on the hill deter the entrance of daily living problems and thus free the mind of constraints that normally impede  our pursuit of contentment.

                    All these tranquil little meadows
                    Tempt me to stay and rest,
                    But daily chores are there to do.
                    And I will give my best.