ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The image displayed on an Homework thread, which is locked ???
Brought this one to mind.

Frosted Spectres.

Gazing through a rear window soon after new dawn
past a ghost gum tree with old bark now in shreds,
misted and eerie on a cold summer morn,
away in the distance still stand the woolsheds.

Rusted red iron providing a roof
over a place where hard men broke their back.
Signs of the shearers, standing tall and aloof
but no more do their coats hang pegged on the rack.

Fence posts leaning over and rails now askew
nothing now standing to restrain unshorn sheep
icicle droplets replacing wet dew
hang down from each corner where lizards would creep.

Abandoned this house, the sheep station and shed,
gone are the dreams of a husband and wife.
Lingering are the memories of things left unsaid
because the droughts and the floods have cost them their life.

Wistfully through a rear window on a cold winter day
gazes a son of a farmer who long ago left
for the city life and much better pay
who returned to his memories of things once unsaid
now ruing the time when he went on his way.

Gazing through a rear window soon after new dawn
past a ghost gum tree with old bark now in shreds,
misted and eerie on a cold summer morn,
away in the distance still stand the woolsheds.

(c).Rimeriter
15/1/01.

Lots to like in this Jim. I think the picture of the son returning after years away in the smoke is one that plays out often these days and it is very sad that properties that have been in families for generations are sadly sometimes sold off and broken up into pretty useless size blocks - lots of country towns have blockies, confess I would be if I could be but too old now to manage it - there I've finally admitted it.

Always sad IMO to see the old places deserted and running into disrepair

Enjoyed the read Jim - thank you

Cheers

Maureen

Yeah, written back in 01.
Cannot now recall that which triggered it.
Probably an ABC Rural programme.

Haven't been outbush for best part of sometime now.
There's a little bush school, not far from your patch, total four pupils.
I've been invited to read a few of my bits by one of the Mums.

Here's hopin'.
Jim.

G'day Jim

In the homework thread, the poem needs to go in as a new topic so that the poem can be commented by those that are going to give comments. I will move the poem back to the homework section if it relates to one of the homework topics. I will mark the topic name appropriately so that it can be matched to the correct week too.

Regards


John Peel

Thanks John, no need to relocate it.

Let it stand in its own right.

"Ta"
jim.