Sunset At Pike's Hollow

[Terry]

A bit of a contrast to David’s great poem.

I’ve been fiddling around and getting nowhere of late,
so ended up trying something familiar – like this.


SUNSET AT PIKE’S HOLLOW

I rest besides my small campfire just off an old bush track,
enjoying here the peacefulness you tend to find outback.
The day is drawing to a close; the heat begins to ease,
though not a leaf is moving and there is no cooling breeze.
But there are compensations if you care to look about,
for day's end is a special time, of that there is no doubt.

I look out to the breakaways and watch the setting sun,
and see the brightness fade away now day is almost done.
Gone is the midday harshness when the glaring sun was high,
and darker shades of blue now start to tint the eastern sky.
The last rays leave the valley; then climb hillsides rough and steep,
but only for a moment as the night time shadows creep.

The sunset splashes red and gold across the western rim,
breathtaking in its beauty as the light begins to dim.
The early stars are peeping as the sun dips out of sight,
and trees are now in silhouette out in the fading light.
I know that I’ve been blessed to see these magic views once more,
and share what those old timers saw one hundred years before.

---------

© T.E. Piggott

[Neville Briggs]

The magic moment is so short isn't it

[Heather]

Sunset and sunrise are a special time of day. You've captured it well Terry. Much enjoyed. I had beautiful pink clouds here last night at sunset.

Heather

[alongtimegone]

As Heather wrote, two special times of the day. It holds true wherever you are. For me, it's on the water, best fishing times too. Loved the poem Terry.
Wazza

[David Campbell]

Hi Terry

Congratulations on an evocative piece of writing and yes, it is very different from my mine, but there's no reason why the two poems can't exist alongside each other in the bush poetry world. I've commented in Heather's thread about the fact that Bob and I shared equal second prize in the Liz Huf competition (which was just for "rhyming verse" and not "bush verse"). Bob's poem, like yours, is in the traditional bush poetry mould, and yet the judges were prepared to reward each of us. Good on 'em!

Cheers
David

[Terry]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks Neville Heather Wazza and David

As you mention Neville it can be a fleeting moment to catch a sunset at its best, by the time you get your camera out the best is often past.

I'm really pleased you enjoyed it Heather.

I know hat you mean Wazza about sunsets over the ocean or even over a large lake or similar they can be magic - thanks for the comment mate.

David I think at times we get too carried away with what is and what isn't Bush Poetry.
I like a particular poem for what it is not because it's been pigeon holed into some category or other.
And though I do love and write a lot of what you'd probably call traditional Bush Poetry, some of my favorite poems are quite old ones like 'Tarantella' and 'The Highway Man' etc. and I also enjoy a wide range of modern poetry; the sticking points seem to be Competitions.
I can see both sides of what has been tossed about a bit of late.
The Traditionalist feel their poetry is under threat, while the Modernist (for want of a better name) feel they're not getting a fair go especially in the comps and neither seems to understand the others point of view. I try to keep out of it these days but I do think there needs to be a more conciliatory approach by both sides if any progress is ever to be made.

Thanks for the comment David and congratulations to you and Bob for the joint success

Cheers Terry

[william williams]

congrats Terry you sure have written what many a bushman has seen often on those peaceful evenings.


bill the old battler

[Terry]

G/day Matt - Thanks

We used to call it the witching hour (probably because we thought it a magic time).

You could limp back into camp after a hard days tramping and wondering why the hell you were wasting your time up there. But a cuppa and an hour or so as described in the poem seemed to recharge the batteries; you never forget those peaceful special evenings.

Thanks Bill
You would have seen a few of these in your time as well mate.

Cheers Terry

[Catherine Lee]

Beautifully written Terry - you really took me there, and it also captures that sense of timelessness really well.

[Terry]

Hi Catherine,

Pleased you enjoyed it, there is beauty everywhere if you care to look.
I've spent most of the last 40 years up in that country often by myself, and still marvel at how special those remote areas can be.

Terry