Some days I go down the river,
Take the dogs along for a run.
There's no water  where the house is
We walk downstream just for fun.

There's a pond down here with  water,
Enough for our Penny to swim.
Pete doesn't care much for that stuff,
Water's for drinking - says him.

Taff likes his bath in a bathtub,
Not swimming around in a pool.
Pete and Taff go off in the scrub
Sniffing around in the cool.

I lie back relaxed on the bank
And the whole world passes me by.
Just lying there at peace with  all
My eyes look up to the sky.

There are shapes  there in the heavens
That change as the air currents flow.
I think of things the clouds could be,
And imagine  shapes that I know.

A mermaid  there has long flowing hair,
She's fixed to the prow of a boat,
Clouds swirl around - I see something rare;
An old castle complete with its moat.

A volcano comes next - no - a mushroom,
As I watch an old anvil appears.
My Dad was, at one time, a blacksmith.
He worked with an anvil for years.

Dogs bark and distract my attention
So I turn to look at the noise.
There's a Wallaby crossing the river,
Dogs follow like good little boys.

Peter and Taff are not hunters
They really enjoy giving chase.
If they got  close to their quarry
I'm sure they would give up the race.

Two white cockatoos  flying around
With their raucous cries so loud,
A flock of Galahs  joining in;
I look back up to the clouds.

And sure enough - away up there
Two Eagles are soaring so high;
The cockies were warning everything
That the Eagles were coming by.

The shadows  now getting longer
It's quite cool, just lying here.
So maybe its time to go to my home
For warmth and waiting good cheer.

As I get up - the thought strikes me,
Where did the afternoon go?
The three dogs and me wander along
Homewards - but ever so slow.


Authors Note: The river described here only has a water flow after heavy rain. Most of the time it's a dry water course or has only a trickle of water.