Homework September 2023 'Natures Secret Gardens'

[Terry]

Natures Secret Gardens –
Garden 1

On misty morns the forest drips and leaves are wet with dew,
the smoke-like mist hangs in the air to blur a pristine view.
It gladdens hearts of all who walk along this winding track,
you’re taken by its beauty as you pass an old bush shack.

Sun touches then a foggy grove and melts the mist away
and dries dew laden bushes with a warming solar ray.
Its gentle glow then brings to life the hidden places where
exquisite flowers open up, so beautiful and rare.

There’s dappled light in leafy glens where filtered sun peeps through,
to light up ferns and rushes where the spider orchids grew.
As tiny streams here trickle by and slowly make their way,
they whisper of this secret place they travel through each day.

So sweet is natures music with its golden notes of sound,
from throats of feathered songsters as it echoes all around.
And heralds yet another day along this forest trail,
this place of untouched beauty, that’s so delicate and frail.

Garden 2

For years it waited patiently a dusty arid land,
then came the rain that brings new life the way that nature planned.
And like a miracle the desert blooms with beauty rare,
breathtaking colours paint this rugged landscape everywhere.

With endless everlastings like a sea of waving jewels,
that dance in tune to errant winds out where the eagle rules.
And all the while there’s green again across the vast expanse,
where Dusty Devils had once weaved their crazy zigzag dance.

A crimson carpet of Sturt Peas is sure to please the eye,
while bringing beauty where for years the land was brown and dry.
And near forgotten grasses grow across the endless plain,
as Budgies in their thousands come to feast upon the grain.

For nature waved its magic wand to bring to life again,
this tortured land of boom and bust and very little rain.
Yet still this land is precious be it green or dry and brown,
a place of solitude and silence miles from any town.

©T.E. Piggott

[Catherine Lee]

Just beautiful, Terry, and exactly what we've come to expect from you with this truly wonderful imagery that really takes us to the places you write about!...And funnily enough, I've just finished watching an Australian series that was set largely on a wildflower farm but also in a location where there was a glorious carpet of Sturt desert peas - gorgeous!... There are some really lovely lines in this poem, Terry - I can see me reading it many times over!

[Terry]

Thanks Catherine,
I remember camping in what seemed like a sea of everlastings stretching out as far as the eye see.

There was another place where the Sturt Peas grew everywhere except in an old long forgotten graveyard.
So we collected some seeds and broadcast them around there in hope some might germinate,
and bring a little colour to it.

Terry

[Maureen K Clifford]

Love it and you won me with the Desert Peas and scattering them in the old graveyard - brilliant - hopefully they will take and bring a touch of colour and beauty to the area.

Loving the contrast between the two poems as well

[Terry]

Thanks Maureen

Yes, I hope some of those seeds germinated as well, it was such a sad desolate long forgotten graveyard from the gold rush days.
I'll tell you more about it later.

Terry

[Ron]

Brilliant write Terry, you have created excellent word pictures that are projected to the readers minds eye! loved it!
The desert pea reference took me back to so many motorbike trips out West. In particular, was one trip when we were between Broken Hill and Menindee, and we just had to stop for quite a while and soak up the visual beauty before us, never to be forgotten.
I too loved the contrast of the two poems mate, well done.
Cheers
Ron.

[Terry]

Thanks Ron
There are some wonderful wild places where nature has weaved her magic.

Terry

[Shelley Hansen]

Just love it, Terry! A beautiful poetic contrast between forest and desert - as only Australia knows!

We've been fortunate enough to travel through the outback following rain - when the unexpected and glorious carpets of flowers simply dazzle the eye.

Cheers
Shelley

[Terry]

Thanks Shelley

Some poems just write themselves don't they.

Terry

[Terry]

Hi Maureen

A little more about that old long forgotten graveyard.
The first thing we noticed when we stumbled onto it, was a feeling of sadness,
and that feeling always seemed to be there whenever we returned.
No doubt it's just imagination triggered by the isolation of the place.

Terry