Cockatoo Twelve Years On '1995'

It's been more than twelve years so they tell me since the flames of death passed through Since the fire that caused destruction burnt it's way through Cockatoo Lives were lost and houses burnt down blackened miles of countryside And people wept for lost possessions for their life time work destroyed. Tears for houses burnt to ashes, tears for lives lost in fierce flame Tears for trees and paddocks blackened some say 'fire bug ' was to blame Cockatoo a place of mourning only blackness to be seen Only smell of smoke and burn out not one sign of Nature's green. Twelve years on things seem so different Cockatoo looks green today And who'd believe if you had not known that huge fire had burnt this way Some still talk of their great losses and the hardships they'd been through But they recovered built new houses and still live in Cockatoo. Nature is her own best healer, Nature the true friend of man Blackness caused by fire and burn out only last for a brief span Cockatoo is one example what a change twelve years can bring On green gum tree by the rail track i can hear the shrike thrush sing. Here in cockatoo this morning fresh and pure the mountain air Green the trees and green the paddocks green as i've seen anywhere Twelve years back a blackened wasteland see how green she looks today Nature is her own best healer and nature always has her way.