Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

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Terry
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Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Terry » Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:28 pm

True Story
A bit too involved for homework Maureen – I’ve only managed the bones of the story really.


The Song Of The frogs

The old camp was a welcome sight with summer still now at its height,
this scrawny bunch of mulga trees at least would offer filtered shade
No greenhouse signs out this way yet; more droughts are likely what we’ll get;
they’re mostly sceptics out this way, from all the comments I hear made.

This arid place I know it well, there’s little shade and hot as hell,
The only life you see out here, are flies and ants, some lizards too.
The grounds as hard as concrete now yet scattered trees survive somehow,
you’d wonder why my wife and I still come as often as we do.

The weather man had promised rain; a promise often made in vain
and looked unlikely to come true with noonday skies still clear and blue.
There’s not a single cloud in view, which shows just what the experts knew,
yet still I glanced towards northwest in hope, as knowing bushies do.

At dusk while dragging in a log, I could have sworn I heard a frog;
impossible I told myself, a frog can’t live in this baked ground.
It hadn’t rained since months before, and even then, a drop, no more;
but then I heard that frog again, soon joined by others all around.

Then like a choir they had sung, sang in their croaking frog like tongue,
they sung for rain of that I’m sure to save them from their present plight.
Their songs were pleasing on our ears; the first time sung I’m sure for years
and echoed through the stillness of a dark and balmy outback night.

Then serenaded by their song we slept through croaks still loud and strong,
till woken by the patter of the first few drops of precious rain.
No doubt the frogs had sensed this change with mating rights to soon arrange,
for many years would likely pass, before the frogs would sing again.

© T.E. Piggott

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Shelley Hansen » Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:23 pm

Very nice, Terry ... as always, very evocative of the vast dry interior of this country.

You are living proof of the truth of the advice that we write best of the things we know well.

Cheers
Shelley
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fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
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Terry
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Re: Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Terry » Tue Mar 13, 2018 11:40 pm

Thanks Shelley

It's a bit rushed to be honest; I've been very busy and this is little more than a rough draft.
I haven't even had time to read the other homework yet, but will make an effort to do so tomorrow.

Cheers

Terry

: After reading everybody's poems and admiring their great use of the prompts, I wonder what the hell I thought I was doing here with this.

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Catherine Lee
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Re: Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Catherine Lee » Wed Mar 14, 2018 6:36 pm

Don't sell yourself short, Terry - this is great! I can see it, smell it, hear it - love it when you paint such clear pictures of the land.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Shelley Hansen » Wed Mar 14, 2018 10:23 pm

Yep, totally agree with Catherine!
Shelley Hansen
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"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

Terry
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Re: Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Terry » Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:35 am

G/day Catherine and Shelley

I reckon you two are very generous Lasses

I blame Maureen for reawakening a memory with her prompts.

It often amazes me that a prompt which seems to at best, to contain only a vague hint,
can reawaken a near forgotten memory.

The place in question was a spot we camped at many times over the years,
we always went there if we were in the vicinity and rain threatened (rarely).
It was a bit of high country and had small gold scattered over a large area,
So you could still work why the surrounding country dried out.
Our campsite became known among a few prospecting friends as 'Piggottville.'

It really bucketed down that time and it was the only time we ever heard the frogs,
we thought we were imagining it at first, then just sat there listening in amazement.

Terry

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Mar 15, 2018 3:26 pm

I love your poem Terry don't sell it short. Frogs also fascinate me - they are the hardiest little survivors burying themselves in the mud and almost I suppose hibernating whilst they wait for the rain. The variety of their songs always fascinates me as well from the deepest baritone to some that tinkle almost like a bell bird's call. Fascinating little critturs. The variety of directions that the prompts send people in is just amazing. Your words took me on a lovely journey :lol:
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Terry
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Re: Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Terry » Fri Mar 16, 2018 11:23 am

Thanks Maureen

I guess we all have numerous memories locked away waiting for something to reawaken them,
a bit like the frogs waiting patiently for rain to awaken them from their sort of hibernation.

There was a small bone dry and rock hard sort of creek that would only have run with a really good downpour,
and any water would not have lasted long.

I have seen waterholes in that country, say after the remnants of a cyclone has passed through that seem to almost fill up with giant tadpoles - so the frogs must always be there waiting for rain.

Terry

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: Homework W/E 27/3/18 'The Song Of The Frogs'

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:26 pm

Hey Terry - I am going to post up my pobblebonking poem which may be of interest as it is a true story. When we were out at our 2 nd property one weekend I was on my own in the caravan just on dusk and my then partner was over the neighbour or so I thought. I was getting pretty cranky as it was coming on dark pretty quickly and I was running out of light. We had a big old Lister generator which he knew I couldn't start not having enough strength to turn it over ... I was cranky because I could hear him up the front of the block hammering in star pickets with a star picked driver and you know how far sound travels in quiet country areas.

Anyway long story short - when he eventually rode into camp on the ag bike in pitch darkness apart from the light from the camp fire, I got stuck into him about delaying his return to finish off a bit of fencing. Turned out the noise of the star pickets being driven in was the call of the Pobblebonk frog and partner had gotten held up at the neighbours trying to get the bike to go. :roll:

Hope you enjoy my little poem :D
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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