ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The Old Shack By The Sea

Almost hidden by the peppermints I view it now once more,
and the memories flood back to me from all those years before.
Just an ancient rough old fishing shack is what I’m sure you’d say,
tucked there near an estuary, where paperbarks surround the bay.
Here the white crane’s stalk the shallows there while pelicans sail past,
then my mind drifts slowly back once more – to love that wouldn’t last.

Just a restlessness to wander is a curse that haunts some men;
pressing needs are put on hold, for there’ll be time for romance then.
Once again I see her face - a tinge of sadness lingers still;
there’s a sense of loss that stabs at me, I guess it always will.
As the mullet splash the rings drift out, then slowly fade away
like the near forgotten memories that haunt me here today.

Shrieking gulls call from the ocean where the south wind bares its teeth
and the clustered shellfish grimly cling to battered storm lashed reef.
Then I turn back to the shack again imagining past days,
back when life was full of hope - but love does have its fickle ways.
This old shack reminds me once again, of how life might have been,
if I’d made a better choice, or if the future could be seen.



© T.E. PIGGOTT

Terry! Pass me the tissues and a towel to wipe the salt spray from my face....I love this!

Thanks Wendy I'm pleased you liked it.
There really was an old shack near a small estuary,
and that was the inspiration for the setting of this poem.

Cheers

Terry

Another great word picture, Terry!

Especially love this line ...

and the clustered shellfish grimly cling to battered storm lashed reef.

The old barnacles and oysters can teach us a thing or two about resilience, can't they?

Cheers
Shelley

Yes, I love this too Terry, and the line Shelley has picked ou really stood out to me too, along with the one before it: Shrieking gulls call from the ocean where the south wind bares its teeth.
It is so easy to picture these scenes and the words carry such feeling - the last line is particularly poignant. A beautiful poem!

Thanks Shelley and Catherine

There's nothing better than a bit of homework to simulate ones mind when you are a bit short of ideas.
I recently asked Catherine if she had a favourite place or thing to write about when looking for ideas.
More recently I've come to realize that in many cases I like to visualize an actual place that's the poem to be is set in,
it seems to help me build a picture of what I'm writing about. The prompts in this months homework immediately
Took me back to the old shack and it's setting for this poem.

Cheers Terry

Great work Terry. You have the images that set the memories in place.

I agree with the others terry - this is lovely - an evocative write with clear images. Particular liked the picture of the estuary and the paperbarks. Well done you - you put Neville's prompts to good use

Thanks Maureen
The Prompts brought back memories of a remote old shack we used to have near a small estuary east of Albany.

Cheers Terry