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Open Poetry #37
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Sweet Madeline [Tissue Alert]
| Open Poetry #37 |
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Sweet Madeline [Tissue Alert] |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
SWEET MADELINE How the blistering heat of mid summer beat down, Turning sweet Mitchell grass in the paddocks near brown While bush creatures sought shade, that's if any be found, 'Mongst the foliage of trees or in holes underground. And the galvanised roof of the homestead below It just creaked and it groaned, oh so rhythmic’ly slow, While the woman within carried on with her chores, Always checking her child should she wander outdoors. There was so much to do 'spite fine dust and parched heat, With the muster now on she was run off her feet; Though at times out of view, she could hear her child’s play, For the echo of laughter revealed her okay. It was but for a moment she left Madeline, Just to check on the bread which was rising and fine; Then returned to her ironing, but sensed something wrong And the feeling which gripped her was ever so strong. Where there once had been laughter from Madeline's play There existed a silence, 'twas clear straight away, And the poor frantic mother now cried out in fear, "Oh where are you sweet Madeline? Answer me dear!" Though her cries filled the air, as she looked everywhere, Her heart raced 'neath her breasts as she screamed in despair; Till so utterly weak she collapsed to the ground, For her sweet Madeline was nowhere to be found. Her fatigued fem'nine frame barely heard the refrain Of the cattle's loud bellows approaching the lane, While behind them she knew was assistance at last And her eyes through the dust t'wards her husband were cast. As he saw her lay there with her face deathly white, He had sensed straight away there was something not right, So he cantered his mare to the spot where she lay, But her small trembling lips found it hard what to say. In his brown brawny arms she found solace from fear, Then she stammered the words, "It's our Madeline dear! She has vanished! Gone missing! Oh where can she be? You must find her my love!" Came her desperate plea. With the aid of the stockmen they searched high and low, But no clue came to light, there was nothing to show How the child could have vanished without any trace And it puzzled them all; 'twas a mystery case. With the sun going down they were near out of light And locating the girl was just nowhere in sight; Then her father declared they would send for old Ned; A black tracker and ringer whose fame was wide spread. The old man had a hut on the far side of town, Though a pensioner now, he knew Ned would come down, As he'd worked on the place and he knew the girl well, For the three year old child loved the stories he'd tell. When the sun disappeared in the west with its light The old bushman had Madeline's tracks in his sight And he followed the signs only his eye could see Till he came to a halt and bent down on his knee. At the cattle yard rails her tracks ended for now While Ned saw on the ground a fresh hide from a cow, That the sweet young girl's father had slaughtered for meat, But to where the child was sure had Ned feeling beat. On the hide lay a post, which was three metres long And to Ned's mindful eye he felt something was wrong, So he lifted the post and then pulled back the hide, Which revealed a small body all curled up inside. As Ned reached for the girl a tear welled in his eye, For it caught him off guard, he was not known to cry, But the small lifeless form which he passed to her dad Made him weak in the gut and left shaking like mad. At the inquest in town and old Ned by their side, Both would hear the sad story of how their child died. It was Ned who'd establish her movements that day From the last time her mum heard sweet Madeline play. Seems she'd wandered outside and then out through the gate To the place by the yard rails where she met her fate. Then the innocent child saw the hide hanging there, And in play she had tugged at the blanket of hair. But the hide being green slithered down from the rail And had trapped the young child in a gruesome, dark, jail, Then the three metre post, much to Madeline’s woe, It had slid 'long the top rail and caused the death blow. Seems that time, the great healer, would fin'ly allow To this couple a son, but they'd solemnly vow; In their hearts they would cherish and firmly enshrine All the mem’ries they'd shared with their sweet Madeline. ©Bush Poet Merv Webster [This message has been edited by the grey (03-18-2006 09:13 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2006 the grey - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Merv? It is most appropriate to give a hanky alert for such a post...and indeed, you did have me on the edge, and then over, in tears. We can never be too careful, nor too cautious, when it comes to looking out for our children. A lesson taught...in a poem written so very well. Thank you. |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Merv, you have written a most wonderful epic! A marvelous storyteller you are! Thank you Sir for sharing your talents here with us. Hugs~Nancy *yes, a handy alert would be most appropriate here* ~ Trace my body with your words, in doing so, you touch my heart ~ |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
Better late then never I guess. I have come across many a child's grave while working in the bush and everyone had a story to tell. Those epic struggles of pioneering families deserve to be recorded and preserved. Thanks for sharing Madeline's story Karilea.  The Grey |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day Nancy. I'm sure Karilea won't mind sharing the tissues and thank you too for sharing Madeline's story. The Grey |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
What a gifted poet you are sir. I truly enjoyed the story, the message, and the lesson within. Beautifully told and rhymed. |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
Thank you for the tissue alert grey. Truly I am in awe! What a piece of work. |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
G'day Mysteria. Thank you for sharing Madeline's story. There are so many that could be told and it was my privilege to tell hers. |
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the grey Member
since 2006-01-06
Posts 119Queensland, Australia. |
Well my Lady. I can't have you all shorting out your computers with tears now can I. Thank you for sharing Madeline's story also. |
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