In Oz the possum grinds on thorn and gum <br />Far too stretched to visit mum - <br />Things are hard outback of Bourke <br />And there’s no time for anything but work. <br /> <br />But Kiwi possums like to visit ma <br />With flowers for her crystal jar - <br />They’ll even take a shopping bag of buds <br />With some greens and beans and spuds. <br /> <br />In Oz the possum is protected <br />As indeed might be expected - <br />Beset by fires and drought and prickles <br />And parched out creeks that slim to trickles. <br /> <br />But Kiwi possums are heaven sent <br />To slurp and scoff to heart’s content - <br />When they dine they have the best <br />And not surprisingly are deemed a pest. <br /> <br />In Oz a treasure - in NZ an imported glitch <br />There are mixed opinions either side the Ditch – <br />Mum’s the word on making possums able <br />To visit home with veggies for the table.<br /><br />Keith Johnson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/anzac-chums-and-their-mums-the-possum/
