The death dance of the Whirly gums

The Whirly Gums came out that night,

They came to dance in the green moon's light,

They run and jump and twist and turn,

Their big red feet tramp down the fern.

And then as the midnight hour draws near,

The female Whirly Gums appear,

With toothless grins and pointed chins

They strike up a tune on their Hammershins.

And harken now to their dreadful cry

The rattle of bones as they slowly die.

And now the music quick becomes

Their teeth fall out, their nails crack

As strength to dance the dancers lack.

Their tongues loll out,m their temples throb

And one by one the dying mob

Sink down to death,

They danced to death.

Elizabeth Powell