There were no stars last night.
There were no stars the night before, nor the night before that and so on.
Our vast skies of majestic blue to inky black and sparkling at nightfall, now hover between a coverlet of smoke and ash or apocalyptic red. As with everyone else, I am heartbroken and I fear this summer has changed Australia forever.
Despairingly, I watch the images and listen to the stories unable to comprehend all that has been truly lost. How did our beautiful country, the place we are so very privileged to call our home come to this…….
My eyes are dry, I cannot cry,
I’ve got no heart for breaking.
But where it was, in days gone by
A dull and empty aching
Henry Lawson
Footnote: The ‘Southern Cross’ is a small but beautiful constellation of the southern sky. It can be seen all year round from anywhere in Australia and it also features on the Australian flag.
oceangirl - these are my stories 
God girl you just made this big fella well up not easily done I can tell you that. Biggest bear hug to you kiddo.
Hello Ham Bone. Thank you for your lovely comment. Bear hug received with much thanks 🙂
Hope it hasn’t been sold off to foreign investors, as my camping trips just wouldn’t be the same without the Southern Cross to gaze up at…
Haha….. Trust you Keithie. I do so miss your quirky sense of humor and those long days on the road together 🙂
So poignant😌.
Thank you x
Sumed up beautifully ocean girl 😙
Thank you Gail