THE HALCYON DAYS

[Terry]

This was the little poem that started it all for me, it won the encouragement award at Boyup Brook in 2009. And gave me the encouragement to keep trying.
I probably posted it back then, but thought I’d put it up again for anyone who’d like to read it, - Terry

THE HALCYON DAYS

He lay there quietly dreaming of his fishing days long past,
of when the streams ran pure and clean and creeks flowed deep and fast.
Where trout were fat and fighting fit as wild trout always are,
and those that dwelt in forest streams the sweetest fish by far.

With karri forest still pristine; (clear felling yet to come),
he now recalls the big fish pool down by the old Red Gum.
And sees the creek come tumbling down to kiss the pool below,
and there he watched his speckled friends those many years ago.

His daydreams grow more vivid as the hours drift slowly by,
he dreams he walks the streams again with trusty rod and fly.
And soon his dream has come alive with summer in the air,
the heady smell of eucalypt now wafts from everywhere.

Cicada’s sing their noisy song with summer on the way -
the forest now seems full of life out on this balmy day.
The birds are singing in the trees while insects buzz about,
and it was good to be alive to seek the wily trout.

He hears the forest whisper as the wind now stirs the trees,
and high up in the canopy the constant hum of bees.
The gentle trickling of the brook is music to his ears,
as in his dreams he lives again those happy carefree years.

She looks down fondly at him and tears glisten in her eye,
recalling him in younger days when he was fit and spry.
When he had been her hero to protect her come what may,
until old age diminished him to what he is today.

Awakened from his day dreams by his Daughters gentle touch -
a tender kiss upon his cheek; a look that tells him much.
He tells her not to worry things are not as they may seem,
although he can no longer walk, he still knows how to dream.

******

© Terry Piggott 4/12/2008

[warooa]

A gem of a poem, Terry. And vindication that you had the ability to produce quality bush poetry.
And how oh so true are those sentiments . . . no matter what gets taken from you, you've always got your dreams.

Goodonya mate,

Cheers, Marty

ps. I thought you'd be prospecting - at over $1500 an oz. I got mates who've pegged leases out on the old Palmer River diggings with some success.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Totally agree Terry - a true Gem - as we age these memories become even more precious as we realize we will probably never have the opportunity to see and experience these things again. Beautiful words Terry well crafted, thank you.

Cheers

Maureen

[Zondrae]

G'day Terry,

Ah! I see a poet on the site. Thanks for returning me to sanity and poetry with this lovely piece. (Sometimes 'lovely' seems quite inadequate but I stumble to find an alternative.) I allow myself to be distracted too often.

We have come a long way since we first became techno-friends and you may not know it but you have helped me to develop in some areas, specially in how I regard the nature of our bush. I have seen through your eyes, on occasion, because with your words you have shown me places I can never go. Thank you for this and please, keep at it. (and I hope you family are as near to you, as mine are to me)

[Bob Pacey]

Beautifuly written Terry. This would make a heart great puller as a performance piece.

I can see the crowd sitting in absolute silence, listening and absorbing the story.


Well written and great effect

Bob

[Leonie]

Just beautiful Terry. I don't remember seeing it before. I agree with Zondrae you have this ability to take us places we will probably never see, well done, and a well deserved award winner.

[Terry]

G/day Marty,
Thanks mate, The reason I'm still anchored here and not up the bush is because I had a couple of minor heath issues, nothing serious, and all under control now. But it has messed up my program a bit, I usually start a couple of hundred klms. north of Kal. and head to the Ashburton in June. I will be heading north in about 8 to 10 days.
I still could have squeesed in a short trip if I had wanted but as my best mate has been going through chemotherapy so I decided to hang around and try to offer a bit of support. We've been fishing mates for over twenty years and thinking about some of our great times is what prompted me to think of this poem again.

Cheers Terry

[Terry]

Hi Maureen,
I often think the simple poems are the best, the more we get into writing the more we're tempted into writing long narratives with the danger of losing the plot along the way. (speaking of myself here)
Thanks for the kind comment.

Thanks Leonie,
I think I may have posted (not sure) but it would have been in my early days.

Terry

[Terry]

Hi Zondrae,
Many thanks for for your generous comment, I would indeed be extremely flattered if in some small way something I had written had encouraged or helped in some way.
As you say we have all come a long since we started on this site and I think we have all learned a little from each other.
Like you I have a very close family.

Regards Terry

Hi Bob,
Thanks mate,
I have never tried to recite this myself, but have great memories of hearing Brian Langley recite it after it won that award, He did such a wonderful job of it, I remember sitting there finding it hard to believe I had actually written it. It was early days for me and I felt really proud of it.

cheers Terry

[keats]

It's a great poem Mate, and you are so right. We can really tie ourselves up in some pretty tricky poetry after a while and sometimes need to go back to where we started and combine our early, uncluttered and simplistic style with what we have learned about writing and performing over the later years. You should have a crack at performing it. I'd be pretty confident you would get the audience in, hook, line and sinker. (ps. Avoid bad puns!)

Keats