There's Another World Out There (Poem)

For a month this summer I traveled to Australia. For nine days of my trip I took a tour of Western Australia from Perth to Broome. I was one of thirteen members of a tour group and we covered close to 2,000 miles. 

During these nine days, I experienced life in a way that I haven't in the previous 30 years. On the last day of the tour, I wrote this poem to recap my experience: 

There’s Another World Out There:

There’s another world out there

With sand dunes meters high.

You can board down them

And experience quiet the ride.

Sandboarding 

There’s another world out there

Where limestone points to the sky.

The Pinnacles were created

Although it’s argued how and why

Pinnacles Desert 

There’s another world out there

Where people repel with ropes.

Having a unique experience

Is their only hope.

Repelling in Kalbarri National Park

There’s another world out there

That makes up Shell Beach.

Billions of tiny shells

Almost hard to believe.

Shell Beach

There’s another world out there

Where rocks are alive.

Occurring in six places on Earth

And Australia owns five.

The Stromatolites 

There’s another world out there

Where dolphins come to feed.

They bring their young along

And they let the humans take the lead.

Dolphin feeding in Monkey Mia

There’s another world out there

That is among the coral reef

Where sharks and fish and more

Find their relief.

Ningaloo Reef - Photo Credit: Aqua Rush

There’s another world out there

Under the great blue sea

Where massive whale sharks

Glide along effortlessly

A Beautiful Whale Shark in the Indian Ocean - Photo Credit: Exmouth Dive Center 

There’s another world out there

Where humans jump inside.

For the beauty under the ocean

Is one thing that shouldn’t hide.

Swimming with whale sharks in Exmouth - Photo Credit: Exmouth Dive Center

There’s another world out there

Where whales and dolphins reside

Just like humans, some are friendly and outgoing

While others are quite sky.

A friendly dolphin in Monkey Mia

There’s another world out there

Where the ocean is a special shade of blue

It’s comprised of turquoise, aqua

And every other hue.

Beautiful Broome from the sky

There’s another world out there

Where the sun sets over water down below

The contrast of orange and blue

Makes for a magnificent glow.

Sunset in Broome

There’s another world out there

Full of beaches that are pristine

The sight is breathtaking

One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

Coral Bay

There’s another world out there

Where cattle and kangaroos cross the road.

They’ll be killed if they don’t watch out

Or if they’re too slow.

Somewhere in the outback :)

There’s another world out there

Where Aboriginals once roamed.

Their traditions and customs try to stay alive

Where they once called their home.

Karijini National Park

There’s another world out there

Where rives carve the land.

Incredible gorges are formed

Dwarfing humans who dare to stand.

A great picture that shows scale. This is the cliff face I repelled down in Kalbarri National Park.

There’s another world out there

Where water falls from rock.

Below pools are formed

When first seeing them provide a shock

Waterfall and rock pool in Karijini National Park

There’s another world out there

Where tunnels of water guide…

You to a new land of promise –

A beautiful paradise

One of the passages we swam through in Karijini National Park

There’s another world out there

With a beach that runs 80 miles.

It’s full of unique shells

Of all colors, shapes and styles.

Incredible shells found on 80 Mile Beach

There’s another world out there

Where cell service can’t be found

With no distractions it’s easier to focus

On the sky and on the ground.

Sunset in Coral Bay

There’s another world out there

With backpackers galore.

Their main objective is to experience life,

To learn and explore.

Just before saying goodbye in Broome

But….

There’s another world out there

Literally another world…

As we looked up at the stars at night

Their piercing beauty was quite a sight

To think that we’re just a tiny planet

Compared to its immensity

There’s so much more to explore

In our galaxy.

So we’ll stick to exploring this planet

And all the beauty on the Earth.

Together we got a tiny glimpse

Of what it all is worth.

So in just nine days

We found so much that shouldn’t hide.

And to quote a funny German,

“I love my life!”

Written: June 29, 2014

I wrote a second poem as a follow up to this one called "There Are People Out There" about the people I met on the tour. You can read that poem by clicking here.