Hi, Here is brother Freds full version of his poem. the one on the poetry com is only 20 lines long which is all poets can submit for the poetry competitions. Edie TASMANIA - EMERALD ISLE OF AUSTRALIA Two hundred miles south of Melbourne lies "Tassie", as Tasmania is affectionately known, Where the east coast soil is a rich red brown and the biggest vegies are grown. >From the coastal north-east of Georgetown, through to the south-east village of Swansea, The water is clear and the fishing is good with plenty of variety. The people are happy and friendly, as they have every good reason to be, Because, unlike the states on the mainland, there is little industry, Which means the air they breathe is much purer, with scarce pollution at all, This explains why Taswegians are so happy, and are obviously having a ball! Tasmania is shaped like a triangle, with its base facing north at Bass Strait, >From east to west it's two hundred miles long, making it Australia's smallest state. Close to the southern tip is the capital, Hobart, a really beautiful town, Which seen from the top of Mount Wellington, is like myriads of diamonds, enshrouded in emerald green, interspersed with splashes of brown. With the lucid blue waters of the Derwent meandering to the south and the west, It's no wonder they have spacious orchards, and trout fishing is considered the best ! Down south along the lush Huon valley, through to the exotic hamlet of Hastings, One wonders at the majestic ancient forests, concealing numerous lime caves and unique thermal springs. South- west you'd find the elusive Tasmanian Tiger- for there're places that man's never been, There're plenty of bandicoots, echidnas, possums and wombats, with wallabies and devils completing the scene. Up in the north- west coast near Burnie, fairy penguins nightly trooping ashore, Add to the island's indefeasible magic, and embellish the local folklore. The magnificent and varied landscape make this truly a beautiful land, Complete with its native flora and fauna, all you'd need now is the angels strumming harps, together with an accompanying band! Roaming red deer abound in the midlands, and the mysterious platypus can be found swimming in many a fresh mountain stream, Sulphur-crested cockatoos, galahs, peacocks, black swans, and a cacophony of kookaburras, add to this fabulous dream. Just sixty miles north in the midlands, is the picturesque village of Ross, Here you'll think you must be in Heaven, or it's close to winning the toss! The flat fertile land in the centre, with quaint villages and farms dotted throughout, Contrasts with the hills in the distance, and its lakes brimming with the healthiest of trout! A further fifty miles up from the centre, rests Launceston-"Lonnie, Jewel of the North", Half the size of Hobart, and as resplendent on the Tamar, as Edinburgh, on the Firth of Forth! With it's peacocks, parks and gardens, the rugged Gorge is a fabulous sight to behold! And in the northern hills and valleys, other towns have produced more than their share of gold! And still there is the west coast, beginning at peaceful Deloraine, Sitting astride the Bass Highway, with its feature monument, a train! The nearby bush town of Mole Creek guards the caves of King Solomon's mines, And a zoo full of native fauna, completely encompassed by pines. Further along at Christmas Hills, a Restaurant and Raspberry farm, With native hens and ducks in the pond, serene with its Olde English Charm, The further west one travels, the wilder the country becomes With impenetrable bush like the jungle, you could easily imagine the drums! The mining towns on the west coast breed them tough to extract all the ore, And it matters little where you're from, you're bound to want to see more! In the north west mining town of Zeehan, the Mount Lyell Railway has been opened up once again, Especially catering for tourists, who will marvel at the wondrous terrain. >From the wide golden sands of St Helens, and Binalong Bay in the east, Ecstatic surf anglers catch huge speckled Colonnial Salmon to feast, Across to the untamed Savage River and the densest of bush to the west, Time will ensure each who ventures, is happy to be our guest. I've travelled the whole World over, some beautiful places I've been, But no sights can beat Tassie's, or none that I've ever seen! So if you've never been to Tasmania, our state across the sea, You're missing out on the best of Australia, just you come and see! -Fred.P.Place.