THE KEEPER OF THE STONES

In the interests in broadening our horizons, this section is devoted to verse which falls outside the parameters of rhyme and metre, such as blank verse and free verse. Registered users are welcome to post their original works here.
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Maureen K Clifford
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Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
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THE KEEPER OF THE STONES

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:30 pm

THE KEEPER OF THE STONES - Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet

The blood red moon mimicked the colours
of the desert sands.
They too were blood red
where Uluru stood.
A magnificent monolith
whose colours constantly changed
from gold
to red
to deep purple
and now gray ,
streaked with black algae
and white foam
as rushing waters
from rain
bathed the dust from her sides.


The keeper of the stones
sits on the red earth
beneath the shade
of the bloodwood.
He is Anangu.
His spirit ancestors are here.
Their ancient paintings
decorate Uluru with natures colours,
paints made from what the Mother provided.
Ochres,
calcite,
ash
and charcoal mixed with animal fats –
as has been done since the Dreamtime.

The same symbols and paint were used
during sacred ceremonies
to paint their bodies
to represent their Tjukurpa ancestors.
He painted Lungkata the blue tongued lizards.
He painted Kuniya , the woman snake
and Lira, the poison snake
and tjali the honey ant.
His ancestors had painted the same symbols.


He is the keeper of the stones.
He is Anangu.


Uluru stands,
unchanged,
serene,
inscrutable
as she has since the Dreamtime.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Shelley Hansen
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Location: Maryborough, Queensland
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Re: THE KEEPER OF THE STONES

Post by Shelley Hansen » Tue Mar 12, 2019 11:37 am

Another excellent free verse, Maureen! Another one that would be great to enter into the free verse section of the HL (Vic) Awards on the theme of "Our Australian Heritage". See the Events and Results page for the entry form.
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

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Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

Re: THE KEEPER OF THE STONES

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:44 pm

Thanks Shelley - I won't be submitting - I am very over competitions that have me running around to post entries via snail mail, and having to send cheques and/or money orders that cost even more to obtain ... IMO it is way past time when competitions, if they wish to be viable, need to look at electronic submissions and payment of entry fees by Paypal ... one of the reasons that the Ipswich Poetry Feast does so well I'm thinking.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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