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Open Poetry #41
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bushfire
| Open Poetry #41 |
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bushfire |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria 
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THE BUSHFIRE The drought had spread her talon’s cruel, For the brush and scrub was tinder dry, The scorching wind with venom blew Beneath a molten arid sky. For months on end there’d been no rain And with stock water dwindling fast, The squatter had to shift his sheep To where he hoped the water now would last. The squatter gazed with grave concern To where a puff of smoke was seen, Now he was twenty miles from home And the smoke lay in between. To his wife he spoke before he left And he saw her with premonition shiver, Should a bushfire come while I’m away, Take the kids down to the river. The distant smoke now gathered strength And billowed upwards in the air, The tongues of flame quickly followed suit And left the country black and bare. It swept across the scrubby plain Leaving black destruction as it went, All that lay within it’s path that day, Would soon know what desolation meant. The animals and birds were terrified And before it’s savage fury fled, Some would live to breed again While so many more lay dead. The stock there trapped from fence within Perished sadly in the flames, For bushfire, no compassion shows For property stock or names. The squatters all from near and far Along with all their men, Gathered now to meet the flames And try to put them out again. The fighters fought those fearful flames With every available appliance, But the bushfire roared with strength anew And like angry dragons hissed defiance. On it’s path from ranges wide With tall mountains full in view, It hit the timber with a rush And it’s anger voiced anew. It leapt across the timbered creek Like a charger to the frey, And exploded on a mountain top Over five hundred yards away. The very air seemed now on fire And as it crossed the mountain’s brow, It was an inferno from the jaws of hell, Only God could stop it now. It roared and crackled through the trees With all things blackened in it’s wake, It was closing in on the squatter’s home With the squatter’s family’s life at stake. The river now was their only hope But she had left their run to late, So quick was the fire travelling now, It seemed that death must be their fate. The squatter’s wife with children two Now huddled petrified with fear, Why was it that she had to die Along with those she loved so dear. But up above those clouds of smoke Other clouds were building too, Storm clouds laden full with rain And the wind stronger now it blew. Then as if by some signal given With the smoke all swirling higher, The wind swung round to face the flames And blew back that wall of fire. While wind and flames in death struggles fought And peril seemed at it’s worst, It seemed it was an act of God When that mighty rain cloud burst. Now there came after months of drought A mighty clap of thunder, And down in torrents poured the rain To tear those living flames asunder. Back and down the flames were forced By the sheer weight of water, The squatter’s wife with hope renewed Clutched tight her son and daughter. Then down the track a welcome sound Among the thunder’s sweet refrain, The squatter on his weary horse Came galloping through the rain. As he sprang down on the blackened sod In his eyes were tears of joy, For running out to meet him there Was his daughter, wife and little boy. “ Thank God thank God,” the squatter cried, And never truer words were spoken, For with family safe and fire put out And the drought at last was broken. |
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| © Copyright 2007 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Hi Owl. What a story! kept me on the edge of my seat. Very well done. I have to say, You're a better woman than I am . Where you live sounds scary to me. Not that we don't have brush fires here but along with the break ins etc, It sounds like a harsh place to live. Ida |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Oops, Ida, this isn't my poem! Lindsay, you had the tears streaming down my face for the drama and fear of the family, and though I was very relieved that the family was safe, my heart is still broken for fear and/or burns and/or deaths of the animals and birds and insects and reptiles and all other animal life. Even if this was a fictional poem, I know that Australia has many devastating bush fires. - Owl |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Fine writing...James |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
So sorry to both of you. I don't know why I mix you two up in my mind sometimes. It may be because I read and enjoy you both and you often talk of drought. Please accept my appologies. Ida |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Dear Lindsay, this was so vivid that I felt involved. You have a great talent. Love, Margherita |
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HopeS Member Elite
since 2000-12-22
Posts 4596Perth Western Australia |
yes we are heading for bushfire season , I saw a few in the dustance even today Hope |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
"While wind and flames in death struggles fought And peril seemed at it’s worst, It seemed it was an act of God When that mighty rain cloud burst." ~ Amen! Hallelujah!  God ofttimes comes to our rescue at the so-called 11th hour! Divine timing can be trying! lolLindsay, I was engaged from beginning to end of this highly dramatic story! My emotions ran the gamut! Not only are you a talented writer, but you have eyes and a heart that see more than most. Love to you, Dear Poet! Linda  |
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FlipPhone New Member
since 2007-10-11
Posts 4NY, NY |
This style seems archaic, regular meter and standard rhyme, reminding me of English Romantic Period. Just out of curiosity, what do you read? -Well done. www.pinemartin.blogspot.com |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Ida, Owl and James, Margherita, Hope and Linda, it always makes me feel so humble when I read all you great poet's response, I thank you sincerely for you've made my day, thank you. Lindsay |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
FlipPhone, welcome to Pips poetry, I only joined up this year myself but had I known about it earlier that would not have been the case. You will get a lot of enjoyment out of reading the works of so many great poets. You ask about the type of books that I like to read, well autobiographys are my favoutites and stories on wild life as well. Thank you for your interest |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
I have never experienced a bushfire but they sound incredibly scary. This was another fine poem. |
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