Homework 15/8 Bitter Sweet Memories Of Yarraman (final)

[Terry]

Finally the finished version, Talk about days of our lives (maybe a bit rushed)


BITTER SWEET MEMORIES OF YARRAMAN
The years have passed by slowly but the memories remain,
of walking through the leafy streets of Yarraman again.
And even after all these years, he still feels deep regret,
at losing his sweet Nellie, and that feeling is there yet.

Again he sees her beauty with her short cropped golden hair,
while dressed in simple clothes and amber beads she liked to wear.
He now recalls just how he felt when love had passed him by;
when Nellie wed another, there was hurt he can’t deny.

His mind now drifted back, and he relived that time once more;
the sadness and the ecstasy of days from long before.
His first day in a new town as a shy young country man,
the story then unfolded, back to how it all began.

Across the crowded dance hall of this tiny country town,
there swaying to the music danced a girl called Nellie Brown.
His eyes were for her only as she glides across the floor,
and past where he was standing; hiding just inside the door.

His heart beat ever faster as her eyes met his at last,
then gave the sweetest smile to him while dancing swiftly past.
And wishfully he watched her as she charmed both young and old;
her beauty and her poise, made her a sight to then behold.

He tried to find the courage to perhaps ask for a dance,
but shyness held him back once more; again he’d missed his chance.
Then came the Pride of Erin; dancers changed and shared their charms;
a miracle then happened as Nell waltzed into his arms.

It was the start of their romance; a thing he’d not forget,
The whole world now seemed perfect; there was nothing to regret.
Young love had quickly blossomed in this time of perfect bliss,
he savoured now that moment when they shared their first real kiss.

Then came that fatal day of when the word at last leaked out,
that he was just an orphan; his dad a murdering lout.
Although he’d never known him, he was branded just the same,
Nell’s father ordered him away, and blackened then his name.

Then came their final meeting when his Nell had crept away,
and told him that she loved him, and then pleaded that he stay.
He tried to make her see; that though he’d love her till his death,
he wouldn’t cause her misery; then turned his back and left.

He stirs the campfire ashes and relives again that day,
and thinks about what might have been if things had gone his way.
He may have had a family to cherish in old age,
instead he’s just a lonely man, whose worth is hard to gauge.

******

© T.E. Piggott 6/8/2011

[mummsie]

Oh Terry, how sad I just want to go put my arms around him.
Well finished off, I really enjoyed this one.

Sue

[Maureen K Clifford]

Me too - very well done Terry - worth the wait.

Cheers

Maureen

[william williams]

Good on you Terry there is more than one old man like that around the bush still even today

bill the old battler

[Bob Pacey]

I call them soapies Days Of Our Drearies Terry but this definately was not.


Well finished mate now it paints the picture in full.


Cheers Bob

[Terry]

Thanks, Sue, Maureen, Bill & Bob.

This started out as a little 3/4 stanza homework but ended up a full blown epic, yet I still missed using one of the prompts (keepers)
but it was a lot of fun, and I guess that's what it's all about really isn't it.

Terry

[Maureen K Clifford]

Well don't worry Terry we will just add this to the KEEPER list. That'll do it

[Heather]

Talk about days of our lives! Good one Terry!

Heather