I wrote this poem because rising salt is proving to be a silent disaster in the farm lands of Western Australia.

The native WA vegetation evolved to be salt tolerant. Many woodland species have deep roots and a high water demand.  

European farming arrived a hundred and fifty years ago, replacing the native vegetation with crops and pasture, plants with shorter roots and a need for less water.

It began the state's worst environmental crisis which has continued to the present day.

Salt has been published in E2K and Landscape magazines. 

SALT 

Since the Holocene

The sea has been trapped

behind dunes. 

It roars

Like a raging lion

ready to be let loose

on the land. 

It sounds louder at night

Menacing. Threatening. 

The sheep listen

From their hillock of sand

the sea once covered. 

Between the sea and the sheep

Are salt lakes.

So much water

so much salt. 

In the wet years

The water level rises

and brings the salt.

The dry years bring starvation.

Sheep die

but the salt remains. 

Now there is less grazing land. 

It is a race between us

And the salt. 

We plant trees. 

It is war between us

And the salt. 

We plant. 

The foe is merciless.

Still we plant.

                                       *            *            *

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When Detective Matt Allenby goes to the small town of Taylors Crossing to investigate a murder, he thinks it will be a straightforward affair. He didn't expect to fall in love with one of his suspects.