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Open Poetry #45
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LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria

0 posted 2009-06-22 09:57 PM



                   The River

     In the far off hidden ranges where two mountain gullies meet,
      A spring with crystal clear water trickles quietly at their feet,
      It wends it’s way quite merrily as it starts it’s journey down
       To the plains that stretch below it to a river Murray town.

       As it passes through the foot hills other streamlets join its course
         And the stream becomes a creek-bed filled up from mountain source,
         It is gentle in its passing until thunder grumbles overhead
         And an angry flash of lightning across the rugged ranges spread.

        Then after months of waiting great rain clouds start to build
          And the farmers are all hoping to see their water storage filled,
      The thunder’s voice grows louder with claps of noise that’s frightening
        And darkened shady gullies are lit by every flash of lightning.

       At first the rain drops softly to the thunder’s sweet refrain
       Then as an avalanche unending, falls that pelting pouring rain,
          It rushes on its downhill flight through every small depression,
          It fills the streams and bends the boughs with only one obsession.

         The streams quite quickly turn to creeks then on to the raging river,
         While stock turn their backs to pelting rain and in desperation shiver,
         The roaring torrent in crazy haste puts the whole landscape in motion
            Enormous logs and crashing trees are swept headlong to the ocean.

          The water from the river’s flood has filled up every hidden hollow,
          Waterfowl find pastures new as the creeks and swamps they follow,
         Black duck and teal soon make their nests among the lignum thickets
         And as the evening spreads its spell you hear a cacophony of crickets.

        The wetlands once again revive from that life restoring rain,
         Mirrored in the back ground music of the bullfrog’s glad refrain,
        Along the peaceful riverbanks stand each gaunt armed gum aghast
          Watching over placid landscapes as river waters gently pass.  


Lindsay


© Copyright 2009 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved
nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
1 posted 2009-06-23 07:40 AM


"At first the rain drops softly to the thunder’s sweet refrain
       Then as an avalanche unending, falls that pelting pouring rain,
          It rushes on its downhill flight through every small depression,
          It fills the streams and bends the boughs with only one obsession."

My favorite verse...heavy rains can sure do some damage this spring/summer.

M

jwesley
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563
Spring, Texas
2 posted 2009-06-23 11:19 AM


Cool write my friend...enoyed the read.

j.

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
3 posted 2009-06-23 01:14 PM


Lindsay, my dear Aussie Man, you are quite the poet! This was invigorating and breathtakinly beautiful!

Hidey ho! Off to Aussieland I'd like to go!

Loveya!
Linda

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
4 posted 2009-06-23 05:08 PM


quote:
The wetlands once again revive from that life restoring rain,
         Mirrored in the back ground music of the bullfrog’s glad refrain,
        Along the peaceful riverbanks stand each gaunt armed gum aghast
          Watching over placid landscapes as river waters gently pass.  



Such a soothing, serene ending, dear Lindsay.

Enjoyed the whole write very much. Water speaks many languages.

Love,
Margherita

Mysteria
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
5 posted 2009-06-23 07:49 PM


You know when Dark Angel (she is a poet here) told me of the rains there I couldn't fathom anywhere could have rain like we do in Vancouver.  Now, having read your poem I see places can.   Beautifully done as usual.  I just love your "stories."

Carpe' Diem,
Mysteria

brneyedgrly
Senior Member
since 2009-06-08
Posts 1125
nowhere and everywhere
6 posted 2009-06-23 10:38 PM


~sweet, linds...

this is wonderful!


At first the rain drops softly to the thunder’s sweet refrain
       Then as an avalanche unending, falls that pelting pouring rain,
          It rushes on its downhill flight through every small depression,
          It fills the streams and bends the boughs with only one obsession.


~as the words flowed down the page i could imagine the water also flowing down and into the ground...

AND...bonus for me!  you used the word 'cacophony' in your poem and that happens to be one of my most favorite words

: )

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
7 posted 2009-06-23 10:39 PM


LindsayP - very vivved writing, reminds me when the Fraser River in British Columbia flooded some time back... It was a sight to see...

BC

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural
8 posted 2009-06-23 11:25 PM


Enjoyed this Lindsay


ARCTIC WIND

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
9 posted 2009-06-24 10:37 PM



To my good friends, Maureen, Jimmy, Linda, Margherita, Mysteria, Brneyedgrly, Bill and

Michael, It really makes my day when I see such good poets as yourselves taking the

time to read and respond to my poems the way you do. It is always so much appreciated
I love you all. God bless and take care.

Lindsay

WTBAKELAR
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Senior Member
since 2008-09-09
Posts 1089
Utah, USA
10 posted 2009-06-26 03:54 PM


No Rain, No Rainbows.

Love to read your works.  I know I will always enjoy them and usually have a smile on my face when done,

Thank you for your spirit and tallet that you share with us.

Very much,
your friend, Tracey.

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
11 posted 2009-06-26 10:57 PM



Thanks Tracey, it's always great to get your response, it is most appreciated.
Have a great day old buddy and take care.

Lindsay

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
12 posted 2009-06-26 10:59 PM



Thanks Tracey, it's always great to get your response, it is most appreciated.
Have a great day old buddy and take care.

Lindsay

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
13 posted 2009-06-27 01:39 AM


Dear Lindsay.. it really is a joy to read your most beautiful giftings to us.. thank you

I have missed you!
RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
14 posted 2009-06-27 05:12 AM


Excellent beyond words! I saw no sign of what we discussed before and the poem flows as smoothly as the river you speak of. You have done a great job here, sir.
Heart2Heart
Senior Member
since 2009-05-15
Posts 738
Scotland/Norway
15 posted 2009-06-27 11:26 AM


A wonderful nature write, I believe I've mentioned it before, but your style of writing does remind me so of one of my favourite writers, Henry Lawson !
Heart2Heart

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
16 posted 2009-06-27 10:40 PM



Dear Roniece, thank you so much for your kind comments, they are very much appreciated. It is great to see you back.

Balladeer, to get a positive comment from you my friend means more to me than you could realise. If you can suggest anything to improve my writing then I would appreciate it very much. Thanks for your generous response.

Heart2Heart, thank you my friend for your very touching comment, for to be compared with Henry Lawson makes me feel very humble
He and Banjo Patterson and a great poet from Scotland, William Ogilvie, are my three favourite poets.
God bless you all.

Lindsay

Rick
Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903
Victoria, Australia
17 posted 2009-06-28 02:20 PM


Hi Lindsay, another great write here my friend, loved the story; now all we need is for it all to happen the way you have told, thanks for the sharing Lindsay, we pray for the rain. Have a great week, see you soon.

Rick

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
18 posted 2009-06-28 10:20 PM



Thanks Rick for stopping by, and although it looks alright on paper it would be one heck of a lot better if we could only get some drought breaking rain that would fill the creeks and rivers. Ten years is a long time to go without any worthwhile down-pour.
Everyone's patience here in Victoria is at breaking point. Pray harder my friend.

Lindsay

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