Scribbly Gum
who writes the scribbly dialect
written into trunks of eucalypts ?
I watch the trunk of a gum-tree
no sign of a scribe
who writes the scribbly dialect
written into trunks of eucalypts?
i run my finger along the rambling lines
and enjoy the mystery
May Gibbs found inspiration
for her writing on the gum leaves
Judith Wright peeled its splitting bark
and wrote her poem
of this life she could not read.
how lovely to enjoy wonder
believing in fairies
at the bottom of the garden
who is this secret poet ?
who is this hidden creator?
this graffiti artist?
leaving its tag on trees
and what is it trying to say?
a brown moth rarely seen
is the curio its tiny eggs hatch
mysterious larvaes burrow down
like children in class taking up their pen
they tunnel along writing their journey
and as the circle of life comes round
form moths and like students fly free
May Gibbs 1876-1969 May Gibbs MBE was an Australian children’s author, illustrator, and cartoonist. She is best known for her gumnut babies, and the book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and her scary old Banksia man.
Judith Wright 1915-2000 Judith Wright was an Australian poet, environmentalist and campaigner for Aboriginal land rights. She was a recipient of the Christopher Brennan Award in 1975. Judith was also a recipient of the Australian National Living Treasure Award in 1998.
Scribbly Gum Moth tells the story of the insect’s life cycle.
Scribbly gums are spectacular Australian eucalypts that get their name from the strange ‘scribbles’ left behind on their smooth bark. These rambling tracks are tunnels made by the larvae of the Scribbly Gum Moth and tell a story of the insect’s life cycle.
Photos of the Scribbly Gums were taken by me in the Ku-ring-ga Botanic Gardens in Sydney.
Ku-ring-gai is an Aboriginal word describing the home or hunting ground of the local people.