It happened once upon a time
Up north of Gundagai
The drought was long, and times were tough
The crops had long since died.
The women knelt inside the church
And prayed that rain would come
While men stood round and kicked the dirt
Beneath a lonely gum.
No man or woman boy or girl
Was able to explain
How one boy’s trust in fairytales
Could somehow make it rain.
Yes, all in town thought Jack a fool
Not quite the full quid, he.
For he thought happy endings were
The way that life should be.
He knew this day would be his best
He’d found more balls of string
His kite would reach new heights today
He’d reach the heaven’s king.
He wrote his message slow but sure
Then sent it Heaven bound
Along his kite-string up it went
Jack knew his plan was sound.
Most men denied that Jack’s short note
Somehow made God aware
But soon the lightning struck Jack’s kite
And thunder filled the air.
The storm that followed raged all night
The rain was here to stay
It filled their tanks and flooded creeks
Did Jack’s kite save the day?
The men just shook their heads and grinned
And women thanked the Lord
While Jack dreamt on of fairytales
He needed no reward.
© Marty Langenberg January 2021