Our Golden Tree by Mark Oliver Smith 2020

Mark Oliver Smith, educationist and author of this celebration of the Australian Wattle

You may admire the Cooktown orchid
Or favour Victoria’s pink heath
Others prefer the scent of boronia
Or simply wild flowers in a wreath.

However, I prefer our wattle
Though it blossoms from a spindly tree
When it wears its mantle of greatness
There’s no prettier sight to see.

It’s true; the acacia is not stately
It has to struggle through life – you see.
But when it dons its regalia
It speaks for Australia,
And glows like a golden tree!