ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Sometimes the prompts awaken an instant image in my mind - as these particular ones did. I've long wished to write about the Loch Ard disaster - and I think this might finally be the start of a much longer project to put the story into verse! Thanks Maureen

LOCH ARD
(c) Shelley Hansen 20/10/21

They sailed the liquid ocean road to reach the Isle of Hope -
just seventeen rich folks who cherished dreams
to settle in Victoria, a colony with scope
for enterprise, achieved with plans and schemes.

The crew made up the numbers - fifty-four aboard the ship
which left from Gravesend, England, in the spring.
Then, thirteen long weeks later, it approached the final trip
to thread the "needle's eye" - a close-run thing.

In virtue and in innocence, young Eva walked the deck -
a doctor's daughter - planning out her life
to settle down and work at first, to earn a wages cheque,
and then perhaps in time, become a wife.

So close to shore, a stormy night propelled the ship off course.
In soupy fog, they missed the Otway light.
Against the deadly jagged rocks, with sharp and grinding force,
the impact spelled disaster on that night.

The tearing sounds were gutteral. The ship was sinking fast.
The cries of "Bless me, Father!" filled the air.
In less than fifteen minutes, fortune's fatal die was cast.
Then silence - as they drowned in their despair.

Just two survivors - Eva, and a young apprentice, Tom.
They drifted to the beach by clinging tight
to remnants of the wreckage. Then next morning, with aplomb,
Tom climbed the cliffs to advertise their plight.

The shifting sands of memory are moving with the tide,
but stories of this wreck will always forge
a place in past and history that cannot be denied.
Today we mark the site as Loch Ard Gorge.

Another great yarn Shelley. I have been to Loch Ard Gorge a few times (once on a motorbike in wild weather) and after reading the story about the shipwreck, it was easy to imagine how absolutely terrifying it must have been!
An enjoyable read, nicely done!
"The shifting sands of memory are moving with the tide" - What a great line!

Cheers
Ron.

Wow, Shelley - quick off the mark, and as always an excellent write! This really puts one there on the scene, and I agree with Ron about that wonderful line - it is truly inspired. I suspect a competition will be receiving this as a submission at some point down the track!

Oh well done Shelley - love it. I was unaware of that story so a history lesson for me as well.

Thank you all for your kind and positive remarks. That line you liked was entirely drawn from one of the prompts - so credit to Maureen too.

There is more to the story Maureen - which is why I believe this poem may be the start of a longer version! The story of the two young people's survival captured the attention of the nation and people wanted to see a romance develop between Tom and Eva - but it was not to be. They each married other people in time. When you stand in Loch Ard Gorge and look up at the imposing cliffs you wonder how on earth young Tom would have climbed them, especially after the trauma of shipwreck and getting to shore and saving Eva - but I guess he was young and tough.

Anyway, the story is now definitely cogitating in my brain - and we'll see what develops!

By the way, Maureen - my HC entry in the Cervantes competition also started its life as a writing workshop poem - so again. there's no need for you to doubt the value of the prompts you generously give us each month. Thank you.

Cheers
Shelley

Excellent Shelley

I agree that particular line was a highlight among many other well chosen words.
It was a pleasure to read.
Speaking of homework poems going on to do do well in competitions,
I have a feeling that the idea for my poem in the same comp might have come from here a fair while ago?

Must get to work and try to come up with something for this set of prompts.

Terry