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Open Poetry #44
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After the Bushfires
| Open Poetry #44 |
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After the Bushfires |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia 
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The fires they have stopped a while To give us rest and find our way But as I wander passed each mile I wonder why God sent that day There’s much that comes from hell sent days From death to courage, tears and hope The learning once again of ways That help us through and let us cope The bush is dead on paths we walk Just sticks in ground that haunt the mind So solemn is this way we talk So dreadful, all the scenes we find Houses gone and people lost Wildlife that just had no chance Embers strewn at such a cost Sadness grows as more I glance Families now are gone, and friends The beauty of the bush did turn This time in time too slowly ends And much too slowly people learn We question why but know the threat We hear reports but think we’re right We watch the news with death inset Then pray and pray with all our might The winds have come with ashes blown The rain appeared to wash the ground A waste land there that’s just unknown With tin and memories blown around The fires do much more than burn They leave a scare that hurts so deep And from the ashes, with each turn Are nightmare thoughts that plague our sleep But we do wake again to day The thoughts of death will pass with age And memories now will fade away As we all turn another page That yesterday a month more on Now roads are free for public view To place where beauty did belong To place that now must start anew |
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| © Copyright 2009 Rick Van Weenen - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Oh, dear Rick, I can feel the devastation grip my heart through your impressive, sensitive write. But as you hint human nature will do its best to begin anew and to learn the lessons. With every new blade of grass that will grow again, hope will grow along. I appreciate your profound reflections. Love, Margherita  |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
Rick, very tear-jerking I wonder though, if after such a tragedy, do thoughts of death fade away really? Though I don't remember much of my car accident, I still think about it every day and awe in the realization of how close I came to dying. And for now, it gives me no comfort knowing I wasn't meant to die yet, God spared me, but why?  I hope you are well, my friend |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
I can only imagine how hard that must be to see, and what was lost... this is so emotional |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
That yesterday a month more on Now roads are free for public view To place where beauty did belong To place that now must start anew Rick my good mate you have painted a very realistic picture in words of the results of that terrible day and perfect rhyimg to boot. great Poem Rick. Lindsay |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Dear Margherita, again a pleasure to see you here my friend, I hope many people do learn from what has happened here, in truth many will not I regret, much will grow back to what it was and houses will be rebuilt again. I hope with hope that history will not repeat. Thank you for your reply Margherita. Dear Dixie, great to see you here my friend, I am well thank you for caring, sorry to hear about your accident, you know first hand and I don't, I hope for you and for others that thoughts of death will fade away. I am happy you are still with us Dixie, you are meant to be and we are all lucky for that gift, take care please. Dear Sea, thanks for the visit my friend, they are emotional times here, amazing how people help in times of need. Good to see you here my friend. Hi Lindsay, great to see you here and to have seen you today, thanks for your reply my friend, enjoyed, take care my friend and be well. To you all my friends, thank you all again for your replys, great to see you here. Rick |
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D.Lester Young Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1219Austin, Tx |
What dynamic picture you paint, first from the tragedy, and then building in hope. |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
D.Lester Young Thank you so much for your visit here and comment, it was very much appreciated. Rick |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Rick, This breaks my heart. You bring the fires to me in a way nothing else has. I read the news, looked at pictures - but, you my friend, touch my heart deeply. I wish you the best always - and I know that people like you will carry on. Your compassion is in every word you write in this poem My heart goes out to you and all who live in a world that changed so rapidly. Your friend, Alison |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Dear Alison my friend, always a pleasure to have you visit, thank you for your compassion and warm heart, if finds many hands to hold each day. Thanks for being a friend. Rick |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I've only seen the devastation wrought by fire in forests and individual dwellings... and that's heartbreaking enough. But I've also seen homes, neighborhoods and entire downs destroyed by wind and water... and whether you're walking through mud or breathing in ashes, the incredible loss is something that stays with you always. Thank you, my friend, for bearing witness... and reminding us all that just because the news cameras aren't focused on an area doesn't mean everything's okay. |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Mother Nature has very powerful powers of recuperation. In time, there will be few reminders of the devastation. However, the loss of human and animal lives, can not ever be restored. Rick, the images that you have so vividly described, bring tears to the eyes ~ and soul. You are a fine poet with a very compassionate heart. Linda |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Dear suthern, thank you my friend for your reply, so much happens in this world that many are not aware of, sometimes the truths need telling and visions need sharing, good to see you here. Dear Linda, you are right my friend, it won't be that long and the areas that are now devastated will regrow and little will remain to remind, life can be wonderful and also so cruel, thank you for the visit here my friend and you words. To you both my friends, your time and words are always looked forward to, again thank you. Rick |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Fine writing of a sad situation...James |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
It's so sad hearing about people loosing their homes and animals being killed from the fires, it is so sad  But hopefully Mother Nature will bring something back to us  ARCTIC WIND |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Hi James, it is indeed a sad time but yet another one of life's lessons for us all to learn from, thanks fro you visit my friend. ARCTIC WIND, good to see you here my friend, Mother Nature has so many sides, may we see the good ones for a while now, thank you for your time here and reply, take care. Rick |
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angellea Member
since 2009-03-29
Posts 144NC, USA |
Such a tragedy. I am impressed with your sense of hope. Beautiful write. Thanks for sharing. |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Heartbreaking, Rick. We are plagued by brushfires here in So. Cal. every summer, I just dread to see the hot weather arrive and dry out the hillsides. I feel the tragedy of this fire in every word you write. Ida |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Excellent write, Rick. We saw the same here when Hurricane David left no tree or brick standing for miles. Mother Nature can be a real, er, witch sometimes. We come into this world with nothing and we leave with nothing. The time in between is simply give and take. You portray an excellent example of the take. |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
I am so sorry to hear of the loss and devestation, Rick. You have captured it in stark detail and chilling reality through your write. Very well penned through flowing meter and visuals. You are in my thoughts. Best wishes and hugs, /Kit |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
angellea, Ida, Balladeer and Kit. So great to have you all reply and visit, thank you one and all, life goes on, people are rebuilding and the black earth is turning green again, just amazing, people are still giving, the human spirit harbors so much hope. Be well my friends, really good to see you here, again thank you. Rick |
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WTBAKELAR
since 2008-09-09
Posts 1089Utah, USA |
Rick, This is such a wonderful write. I am reminded of the savage fires that burned Yellowstone National Park several years ago, They all said the park was ruined, but nature has a way of taking care of itself. Now the park has new pines and fresh growth, and has healed. The fires are just a memory and photos. Life goes on and we grow, we learn, and we change. Very nice poem. Tracey. |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Dear Tracey, good to see you here my friend, thank you for your visit and reply, nature is indeed cruel and kind, one day destroys, the next repairing and showing its grace. We are lucky to be able to see all the changes that go on around us, to cry the tear and witness the miracle. Have a great day my friend and take care. Rick |
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Roniece Dawson-Bruce Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689Sydney, Australia |
Rick your poem speaks volumes dear friend.. wonderful writing here... Roniece Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight......... |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Hi Roniece, great to see you here my friend, thanks for your reply once again, each one is heart felt and enjoyed. Rick |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Some poems just need to return. |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Good on ya Alison, thanks for bringing it back to page one, much appreciated. Take care my friend. Rick |
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