Australia used to be in movies more
and world consciousness
kangaroos and koalas
and continental desert
everybody knew and loved
Crocodile Dundee
and his Aussie hat
cheered when he married his co-star
laughed when the street thugs
pulled out a switchblade
to threaten for money
“Look out!” she cried,
“He has a knife!”
Dundee gave his crocodile laugh
said, “That’s not a knife,”
pulled out his giant Aussie blade,
said, “This is a knife,”
and the muggers fled in terror.
In those days
Australia was
tennis and movies
we all went on a Picnic
at Hanging Rock
soldiered in the War
Walked About
Alice was Out Back
and we all stood
On the Beach
looking up
at The Last Wave