Mid April In Olinda

The sky it is gray o'er the high mountain village and the sun will not shine in Olinda today
And on the high gum trees the currawongs piping they tell us that rain cannot be far away
From the wooded highlands of the Yarra Ranges, the chirpings of rosellas the cawing of the crow
The birds sing and chirp in the changeable weather when rain is approaching they tell us they know.

When I visit Olinda the rain seems to follow and I've seen the golf course in a blanket of snow
But that was in Winter as I well remember and that was well over a decade ago
The highest and coolest part of the Dandenong Ranges and home of the giant eucalyptus the mountain ash trees
The freshening winds that blow through the high country in their leafy branches play strange melodies.

The song of the magpie cannot be mistaken in the greyness of noon his flute ringing clear
And the grey butcherbird piping his voice so familiar the sweet sounds of Nature so pleasant to hear
Great artists in canvas have imaged Olinda and famous poets by it been inspired to rhyme
These ancient hills have been around forever and it has been said they are older than time.

Mid April in Olinda in the high mountain country and the old mountain village this sunday is quiet
The suburbanites don't drive up here in changeable weather the Olinda traders rejoice in sunlight
The grey clouds are gathering above the high country and the kookaburra calling to tell us of rain
And the birds of the woodlands they seem so familiar and I feel so happy to hear them again.