Jasmine+Brickley

= = Life’s A Beach

** The Open Sea by Dorothea MacKellar **
From my window I can see, Where the sandhills dip, One far glimpse of open sea. Just a slender slip Curving like a crescent moon— Yet a greater prize Than the harbour garden-fair Spread beneath my eyes.

Just below me swings the bay, Sings a sunny tune, But my heart is far away Out beyond the dune; Clearer far the sea-gulls’ cry And the breakers’ roar, Than the little waves beneath Lapping on the shore.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For that strip of sapphire sea <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Set against the sky <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Far horizons means to me— <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And the ships go by <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Framed between the empty sky <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And the yellow sands, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While my freed thoughts follow them <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Out to other lands.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">All its changes who can tell? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I have seen it shine <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Like a jewel polished well, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Hard and clear and fine; <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Then soft lilac—and again <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">On another day <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Glimpsed it through a veil of rain, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Shifting, drifting grey.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">When the livid waters flee, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Flinching from the storm, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">From my window I can see, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Standing safe and warm, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">How the white foam tosses high <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">On the naked shore, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And the breakers’ thunder grows <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To a battle-roar…

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Far and far I look—Ten miles? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">No, for yesterday <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sure I saw the Blessed Isles <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Twenty worlds away. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">My blue moon of open sea, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Is it little worth? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">At the least it gives to me <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Keys of all the earth

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This is a poem by Dorothea McKellar. It was made in 1916 It is about a persons life and relationship with the beach. the beach for many is a way of life. In this poem her love of life and the beauty of the beach which she holds close to her heart. The beach to her is her escape, her gateway to adventure, a dream of a new path. The sea makes her feel like she has endless opportunities and fills her with a feeling of awe. For example, in

This painting was made by Shannon Hamilton and named “Beach Bookworm”. For many Australians, the beach is a place to relax and unwind and that is shown clearly by the subject’s relaxed position (lying down) and her actions (reading a book). Typically, Australians go to the beach simply to relax and be with family. The colours used in this painting are bright and eye-catching.

The brush strokes are large and bold, but they show every little detail – from dimple, to wave in the sand - perhaps hinting that it’s the little details and the little joys to be found in such a large and broad place of colour and energy. The high contrast of the subjects skin, to the blue chairs, to the sand and her swimmers. These colours alone are stand-out and fun; the perfect combination of cool, calm colours (blues, whites) and lively warm colours (reds, oranges, yellows). Showing that perfect balance of both cool sea and warm sand that we call a beach. In my opinion this painting is the embodiment of the beach. The relaxed atmosphere, the contrasting elements that compose the picture and bring the harmony of colours together, the subjects position and action. It truly is a great representation of Australian beach culture.



This is a book by Max Fatchen & Tom Jellett. This is a children's picture book about how one family spends their Australia day together.

Short Story – First Draft

The Dirt Circle

The rough concrete dug into my bones. I lay huddled in a tight ball, trying to maintain all the body warmth I could. The cell was very small, with rusty wire and steel separating me from my freedom. One small, rusted padlock kept me locked away from the world, away from my family, away from my Emily. About 50 others, just like me lay in their own cells. Some whimpering, some crying, some swaying from madness, or shouting. The smell of dust and rock filled the dark shed that we were kept. Small shards of light reached out and touched a few of the cages, but that was the only light we had. We all lay with our tails between our legs, waiting. Waiting to be called into the place we called ‘The Gravel’. It was a place where two scared dogs must fight for their lives. We had to fight against our friends and for some of us would be forced to fight our own families. The men that locked us up would take us out and kick us in our sore, exposed ribs, shouting gruffly, without the love many of us had known. We would scream, and yelp, but we always knew that nobody would listen. We were taught to growl and snarl and take a friends life. It was us, or them. Their whips would crack; two dogs would be released – neither wanting to fight, but neither wanting to die. We circled, watching each step our friend would make, until one of us decided to take action. Jaws frothing, teeth snapping, shoulders hunched and ready to spring. Hundreds of men would be watching from outside ‘The Gravel’ waving green paper and shouting loud things. It was terrifying, but we had no choice. Bad dogs were broken by the men, some were killed with the loud stick they pointed at us when we weren’t aggressive enough. We all fought for our lives. A German Shepherd lay in a cell next to me, licking his bloodied paws. Patches of his fur were missing, with dried blood and scabs matting patches of fur. One of his canines was broken in half, jagged and sharp. His gums slowly bleeding and his saliva flowed red. A large, grey scar went from his forehead to his cheek. His tail looked ravaged and crooked and lay listlessly aside. His body was covered in dirt, sand and blood. I watched him as each breath he took blew a little sand away. When he noticed I was staring, he growled. “You’ll look just like me, if you don’t stop staring this second, boy.” His eyes were less intense than his words. “Sorry” I mumbled. “I’ve never seen a dog as roughed up as you…” “Yeah, well I don’t know nobody who ever been here as long.” “How long you been here?” “A long time; Trained since I was a pup. My master was one of the men who beat us. Was my my master. I used to love him, but he never did. I was an object that would obey him and every command he forced upon me. Trained and forced to fight other dogs, just as you and every other here. I was the first of his dogs.”

“I really don’t know what to say to that, but one day we’ll make it out of here. You’ll find a master and I’ll see my Emily again. We grew up together.” “Don’t believe in hopes and dreams, it just makes it hurt more… don’t believe in things that will never happen.” I ignored his cynical remarks. I remembered what I was fighting for.

I was born at a farm with rolling green hills and huge canola fields of endless yellow. An old man and woman lived there in a weathered, crooked cottage. My Mum taught me how to jump and chase and my Dad taught me how to stand straight and tall and respect the masters. I played in the tall, dewy grasses with four of my other brothers and sisters, pouncing on blooming dandelions and chasing little lambs. One day I was lying on the cool, shady porch watching the trees sway. A cloud of dust appeared up the road. I lifted my head. I saw a large metal animal, whir and growl and crumble the dirt and rock beneath it. I thought it was a huge metal dog. I cowered underneath one of the porch chairs. The metal animal came to a stop a few meters aside of the porch. A large man, with blue eyes and a shadowy face stepped out of the metal animal. A woman with black hair and a laughing face stepped carefully out of the metal creature and crunched across the gravel. Her stomach was very large for a normal human. I watched the two figures walk slowly towards the porch. My eyes were again drawn to the sound of the metal creatures’ sides opening up again. A little human child skipped out of the creature and closed its metal sides. She chased after the two older figures and nudged in between them holding their hands. They walked up to the porch, not noticing me. They knocked on the wooden opening. The elderly man and woman limped out and happily greeted the strangers. The strange man and woman continued talking with the elderly man and woman, but the human child lost interest and sat on the floor, fiddling with bits of rock and dead leaves. I cocked my head to one side watching her. I had scuffled a bit and the little human immediately turned to face me. She smiled and came over to pat me. I got scared so I ran to the back garden. She followed. I raced into the veggie patch and hid among the pumpkins. She still followed. I tried to lie as still as possible among the pumpkins, but I hadn't realized she was right behind me. She quickly scooped me up and carried me to a soft patch of grass. She rubbed my belly and stroked my ears. She nuzzled my neck and we played and played. No human ever played with me like this. We soon grew tired and lay on the grass.

The sun glared and the dew upon the grass was hot. The human girl started knotting bits of grass. I sniffed at dandelions. In the tall grass by the edge of the garden there was a rustling sound. It gradually came closer. The little human noticed nothing. I saw a dark shimmery object edge through the grass. It darted towards a large rock. Silence. I rested my head. Then the shimmery object slowly slid through the grass. I remember quite clearly its black tongue as it edged its way towards us. I barked and growled and snarled, but what I later found to be a snake kept its steady pace towards us. The human girl hadn’t noticed the animal coming towards her, until she realized what I was barking at. She yelped and ran behind a large boulder. I went for the animal. It hissed and spat, swaying from side to side. With my small little teeth I lunged for the animals head and crunched down hard. It went limp in my jaws. I remember tasting a sort of fishy, metal taste. I carried the animal across the grass to the little girl who was still hiding behind the rock. Her eyes were wide as I dropped the long, shiny, dead creature. She jabbed it with a stick. Deeming it well and truly dead, she dug a whole with a little stick and placed the dead creature inside. She filled up the hole and placed me in her lap. She spoke human words that I didn’t understand, but I assumed she was thanking me for killing the creature. Being the cocky pup I was, I was pretty proud of myself too. We walked back to the front porch where my mother and father sat obediently beside the elderly man and woman and the strangers I assumed were the parents of the little human girl. The strange man and woman were examining my brothers and sisters and seeing how fast they could run and which of the pups were most affectionate. The little girl trotted up to them and said something to which the younger man and woman turned and looked at me with shock and bewilderment. They patted her over in frantic search for any injuries, but the girl just stood there shaking her head. The man and woman came over and patted me, the woman gave me a tight embrace.

After all the sudden affection, I walked over to my Mother and asked her what was happening. “That was a snake, my dear. A deadly creature whose fangs could have killed you, or the little human girl over there. You killed it and saved her. Now they are choosing you.” “Choosing me? What do you mean?” “Every dog needs a master, but we must leave our family to find them. I was younger than you when I was taken from my mother and given to the masters I have now, but don't worry these are good humans. You can learn a lot by looking into a humans eyes. Their voice may be gruff, but you can tell the good apart from the bad by the gentleness of the eyes." "I don't want to leave you? What if they don't want me when I get big?"

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