ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Tragedy At Lake Darlot

Based on a true story – I have stood and viewed the graves -
There’s a lot more to the story of course.
I have also slipped in a couple of extra syllables into the second line of the first stanza – can’t let a small technical hitch spoil a good line!

I’d had come across this story from a bloke I use to know,
as we sipped a coldie in the front bar, at kookynie, years ago.
And some thirty years now later I am camped here at that spot,
near an old, abandoned graveyard, time had long ago forgot.
And was trying to recall again, the story I’d been told,
of a tragedy that happened, in the early days of gold.

Sleep that night was restless with my mind still trying to recall,
as it trawled for faded memories, through cobwebs dust and all.
Even as I slept it searched for fleeting shadows from the past,
through the empty void of darkness where such memories may last.
That were hidden in the mists of time, till woken then somehow,
when at first a merest glimmer, turned into a flood here now.

I was woken by the chorus though the sun was yet to rise,
As I wandered to the graveyard to now view through sleepy eyes.
There among the poignant nameless mounds where pioneers now lay,
two small headstones, first a boy, and then his dad who’d died next day.
And a sadness had then touched me as I thought what this would mean,
for a wife and mother, and the tragedy, this must have been.

And the pain of loss would linger long beyond the early tears,
leaving bitter memories for her, that then would last for years.

****

© T.E. Piggott

G'day Terry,
That's a beauty, and even better being based on a true story.
Some great descriptive standout lines, and I agree with your comments on the second line of the first stanza.
Many sad and bitter memories those early settlers would have had to deal with for sure!
Enjoyed the read mate,
Cheers
Ron.

Thanks Ron

As I mentioned there's a lot more to this story, I may have a go of trying to do justice to it later.
As far as I know the young boy died of tetanus and his father died the next day,
when down either a mine shaft or well and was overcome with bad air.
As an aside, my brother and I were down the deep Yarri battery well doing some repairs to the pump,
no knowing a chap had died in that well some years before from the same problem.
I later ran into that bloke's son, and he told me the full story.

Cheers Mate thanks for commenting.

Terry

Such a lovely poem Terry even though sad. Your poetry is always beautiful. Cheers

Thanks Dolly

And thank you for supporting our homework forum.
We're teetering at times through lack of interest, and that is disappointing.
We love to see people dropping in here even if it's only to make a comment.

Terry

Nicely crafted Terry as always - so many experiences you have had, have become wonderful poems and this one in particular is very sad. What a tragedy for that poor family

Thanks Maureen

6 years opal mining and about 40 years as a gold prospector among other things has helped.
There are so many stories and every now and again one pops into my mind again.

Cheers

Terry

A sad but very well told story, Terry. I've lost count of the graveyards I've strolled around and mused upon over the years as I've come across similar tragic tales. It really brings gives you goose bumps, and I love poems like this that respect and hold their memory.

Thanks Catherine

This was just a tiny little graveyard, and unless you knew where it was you would never find it.
There is always a sadness with these long-abandoned places, often in remote areas and long forgotten.

Terry