I Am Australian

• Tiana Loechel, Grade 5
• Poetry
• 2013

I walk outside in the sweltering heat,
Down the driveway to look down the street.
The driveway's so long, the street's just a track,
It's almost impossible to see if Dad's back.
I can't stop thinking of my new friend,
That Dad'll bring when they come round the bend.
I see a cloud of red dirt rise,
I cough and blink it out of my eyes.
The rest of the family's coming to see,
But I'm glad the first person to meet her is me.
Her hair is as black as a moonless night,
Her brown eyes twinkle in the sunlight.
We run down to the beach which is oh so near,
The sand, soft and golden, the sea, really clear,
She takes it all in and seems quite amazed,
The blue ocean makes her feel a bit dazed.
For lunch we have a barbie, then pile in the ute,
Dad takes us on an outback tour, we all think it's beaut!
We're singing songs around the camp fire, and toasting marshmallows,
Then going down the creek next day and playing in the shallows,
She joins us playing cricket, 'cos footy season's gone,
And watching it on TV to cheer our team on.
I find that I am proud to be,
A true blue, fair dinkum, AUSSIE!!!