SILVERPOETS    -    WINNERS  CIRCLE                Page 21 October 2009 HER   EPITAPH   PLAIN Travellers pass, they don't know that it's there.  In the scrub it is hidden away. A green grassy knoll near a river gums bole, a beautiful place people say. There's a slash on the River gums trunk, where someone has peeled bark aside in the shape of a cross it depicts one mans loss, and it's done with a bushman's fierce pride. Many years ago the story goes; this place was a homesteaders dream. Where he cleared and he planted, and fenced, alongside the clear running stream. But sickness and pain was to come, one sad day when he returned home. He found that his bride had sickened and died, leaving him and the young boy alone. Filled with grief for the wife he adored, with his heart just bursting with pain, he had fashioned a cross on the Gum, to eternally mark her remains. He had carved deep two hearts intertwined, carved them right next to her name for he knew as the Gum grew those two hearts would grow too.  This was her epitaph plain. He hadn't the will to go on, for his heart had lost its sweetest song. So he left with the boy, no longer did he enjoy the days by the river so long. Where they went, well nobody knows, they travelled wherever wind blows. The cross still remains, her epitaph plain, and two hearts embrace 'My lovely Rose.' Travellers pass, they don't know that it's there.  In the scrub it is hidden away. A green grassy knoll near a River Gums bole, a beautiful place all would say. It is said that on still summer nights, that Rose sits and silently yearns.. A wraith softly weeping, her long tresses drifting, she waits for her lovers return.                                                              time passes................. Many years have passed by since then, and visitors here have been few but once again movement is seen, a battered Ute comes into view. A tall man with shovel in hand, with a tin  and  one old hessian sack, is walking the track to the Gum, it seems that the young boy is back. No longer a child but a man, he sees the old Gum tree ahead He looks not to right or to left, his feet know the path that they tread. Once more the lovers unite, as he strews ashes beneath the tree. He hears his Dads voice in his head - "Thanks Son this is where I should be" The sun blazes down on the man, the summer day humid and bright, but under the shade of the Gum, the two hearts stand out silvery white. He picks up his shovel and sack, pausing for a moments reflection, then moves out again to the track, now sure of his final direction. The sack held a bare rooted rose, when in bloom its flowers would be red. 'Love everlasting'  -  a vigorous rose, sweetly perfumed -  the store label said. He planted the rose with great care,  in a spot that he thought would be right where the sunlight and rain would nurture its growth and its fragrance would sweeten the night. Travellers pass, they don't know that it's there.  In the scrub it is hidden away. A green grassy knoll near a River Gums bole, and a beautiful rose bush they say. There's a slash on the River Gums trunk, two hearts have been carved intertwined Now William Fitzpatrick and Rose are together, their epitaph finally combined.    - - - - - - - -  by  Maureen Clifford ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Judge's Comments: The last verse echoes the first, tying the poem up very well.  In between we have a story of love, loss and reunion in death, told in perfect rhythm and rhyme. Internal rhyming is also a feature used well. This poem is typical of Australian bush poetry both in its format and its content, speaking as it does of bush life in a past era. It is a tradition that carries the atmosphere of being affected by the hardships of that life, honouring those who were affected, and caring. Well done....................Dreamweaver --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 2009 (Christmas competition): SPECIAL DELIVERY Thanks Dear" he said as off he flew into the winter night "I'll be back in the morning, if everything goes right. Sleep tight my love you've earned your rest, we've all worked hard this year But thankfully I'll finish up tonight, so have no fear." And off he went. To work, to work. A big job on tonight So many souls relied on him to get the orders right. He had to do it on his own, there was no one else to see that everything was packaged right for this delivery. Luckily he was experienced and supported by a great team, who worked like clockwork seamlessly delivering his dream. No huge conglomeration this... No big company was he. Just hard working little people with a desire to succeed. His compliments were many, written complaints very few Though keeping everyone happy is very hard to do. Still overall he managed, each year his business kept increasing. He always had a laugh and smile, good humour never ceasing. He was always kind to animals, and he loved small children best, though he and his wife unfortunately had not that way been blessed. Still his workers were his family, and his factory his home. With life he was content, only once a year did he roam. He wore his special suit of red, he travelled in a sleigh. Pulled by his pet reindeers with Rudolph leading the way. And never once did he forget to leave a special gift, for every single boy and girl on his gigantic list. And as the long, long night passed by and names and gifts all tallied. The reindeer's footsteps faltered, but valiantly they rallied, until their home was in their sights, where the elves were gathered near Santa alighted from his sleigh, patted all and said "Thanks Deer." On Christmas morn, children awake in great anticipation. The rich, the poor, across the world, and all across our Nation. Hoping that they will find a gift delivered overnight, By the cheerful man in the red suit who travels Reindeer Flight...   ---------- by  Mahalia  © ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Judge's comments: A terrific little poem, full of the Christmas spirit! It's lovely to read such cheerful thoughts, even if they are a little old fashioned these days! Just love the "Thanks dear/deers!" A very traditional poem,  and certainly suits the season. Christmas isn't just for kids but it's for the oldies who remember friends and those dear to them. Rhyming and rhythm is very good, just stretching a little point here and there. The mood is cheerful and upbeat, with very good vibes! This poem does do a lot for the child in all of us and it appeals especially to our childhood emotions,  if one can remember back that far! It's a good story, progresses well to a happy conclusion, focusing on one theme with plenty of action. I guess it is sentimental but a little sentiment doesn't hurt now and then. There is joy in it which is the most important thing.Great work......................................Annafe. Winner's choice of prize:   "The Cattlemen's Daughter" by  Rachael Treasure --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to: HOME   Back to: Hobbies & Games    Back to: Silverpoets (20)  Forward to: Silverpoets (22)