"FAITH" Cervantes 1st Prize

[Glenny Palmer]

(The Aboriginal name of ‘Daramulum’ is pronounced ‘D/th/arra/maal/an)
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‘FAITH’ © Glenny Palmer
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He scanned the rusted landscape with an aged and seasoned eye;
a barbarous horizon brushed a clear, malicious sky.
The heat fired clay mosaic of that last great basin cracked
and crazed its bed; its death throes cracking, crazing heart and head.
and William Strong the Third…began to cry.

The stillborn air hung heavily with plaintive lowing pleas,
the shifting mob enshrouded in a cloud that can’t appease
a dying creature’s cry for mercy; merciless the land
withholding grace. The only rain, the tear on each man’s face.
and William Strong the Third…fell to his knees.
.
He scoured an unforbearing heaven, cursed his god, His tome,
then spurred his steed and like a demon rode the sterile loam.
Sheer anguish matched each stride with guilt--three generations beat
drought, fire, and flood; this spirit flooding, firing in their blood.
now William Strong the Third…could lose this home.
.
He scanned the rusted landscape with his ancient seasoned eye,
and saw the same horizon and the same malicious sky.
With onyx frame against a molten canvas, there he leaned
upon his spear; primeval stance of tribal life, austere.
Daramulum saw his brother cry.
.
The shadowed figures gathered in their solemn sacred rings.
Bullroarers whirled, appealing for the songs their master sings.
This Sky God, so ethereal his guise of spirit bird,
invoked the change; his shadow grew and swept across the range.
Daramulum fanned his mighty wings.
.
The languid flora shuddered in anticipation’s vein,
and long forgotten moisture kissed the torrid air again.
The wild things thrust their heads aloft to sniff the changing breeze
as creatures do; sweet cumulus was bearing life anew.
Daramulum’s anthem…rain! Sweet rain.
.
The congregation chanted in a chorus of despair
beneath the cross of Jesus, unified in ardent prayer.
Humility and melancholy lowered each one’s head
and heart alike; with hearts renewed beheld the lightning strike.
but William Strong the Third…was absent there.

The mighty Sky God furled his giant wings and once again
embraced his Emu kin, converging with the red soil plain.
The Great Creator smiled upon His children for the joy
salvation brings; salvation in the song that nature sings.
and William Strong the Third’s warm corpse…saw rain.

[r.magnay]

Hi Glenny, it has been awhile since we chatted, great to see you still at it, I wrote more when I was working than I do now that I am retired, congratulations on the win, a very deep story and of course topical at the moment.

[Glenny Palmer]

Hellooo Ross. Lovely to hear from you again. Ta for your kind words. You're right about 'retirement' mate...I seem to be busier than ever (but at a much slower pace.) Lol. Cheeers.

[Terry]

G/day Glenny

I have already congratulated you, not just because you won, but also because it's a great poem.

Well done Glenny, it's great to see you posting again - believe me this forum needs all the help we can get.

Regards

Terry

[Shelley Hansen]

Wow! What a poem, Glenny!

Not only the vivid word picture you've sketched, but the fascinating metric structure. Extremely inventive! I can certainly see why you won first prize!

I concur with Terry - lovely to see you posting here, and please continue! I'd simply love to see you participate in Maureen's monthly writing workshop. You would set the bar high for all of us, I know!

Cheers
Shelley

[Maureen K Clifford]

Powerful poem Glenny - Good to see you writing and posting again and easy to see why this took out the gong. Well done you

[Glenny Palmer]

Thank you Terry, Shelley, and Maureen. I am certainly thrilled to receive this award.

I am glad to 'be back' too. Although I'm still trying to get settled in my new abode, I will try to contribute more now.

I am a tad rusty on how to Post and Reply, and I could only seem to 'reply' to the latest comment, and not individually. (?) Hence my bundling you all together.

I'll have a peek at Maureen's prompts and see if my Muse kick starts.

Cheeers
Glenny

[Shelley Hansen]

Hi Glenny

You are correct - as far as I'm aware we don't have the option to reply to comments individually, so what you did is exactly what we all do when we are responding to multiple comments.

All the best in your new surroundings, and here's hoping the Muse brought her knickers and toothbrush and moved in with you!!

Cheers
Shelley

[Catherine Lee]

Wow! Incredible poem, Glenny - Congratulations! This really is a well deserved win with its such clever structure and powerful words that bring on the goose bumps!

[Duncan Williams]

Very nice poem Glenny. well enjoyed, Cheers Duncan.