ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

In the Shadows of Mount Maiden

In the shadows of Mount Maiden there’s a campsite I know well,
for it overlooked gold country - and what stories it could tell.
Rolling hills and scattered mulga dot that country everywhere
and for years on end I called it home and loved the lifestyle there

Just to wake up in the morning in that land of far-a-way,
where with luck you could be digging Golden specimens* that day.
For the omens stared right at you as you clambered out of bed,
as the morning sun lit up a spider’s web of golden thread.

Now this place had long been special back when tribes were in their prime
and the ancient frames of whirlies* there, tell of that other time.
But the gold rush days brought change with dreams of fortunes to be made,
though in summer you are happy just to find a little shade.

Names roll of the tongue of well-known mines and other spots I knew,
but the one I’ll long remember there was called the Famous Blue.
Golden specimens abounded and were always rich with gold
and by chance we were the first ones there - and luck rewards the bold.

*******
© T.E. Piggott

For anyone who’s interested!

*(1) Whirlies - Early Aboriginal shelters: The skeletal framework made of sticks were still standing when we first arrived there, but no Aboriginals had been there for many years.
The area around the MULGA QUEEN just down the road from the FAMOUS BLUE, was always of special interest to them. Some Years later a small community was set up there for a few families.
(2) There were plenty of big Golden Orb spiders and their support threads had a golden hue about them
(3) The specimens mentioned were lumps of quartz studded liberally with gold, the best one I found there had fifteen and a half ounces of gold in it – We were fortunate enough to have found quite a lot of gold there in the early Days

Ah, I was waiting for one from you, Terry! This is wonderful use of the prompts, and as always your images are so clear I feel as if I'm there. Really like this poem!

Thanks Catherine

I must admit the pen's been at rest a lot of late,
but who knows what's around the corner.
Haven't been entering many comps either,
haven't been able to get myself motivated much of late.

Cheers

Terry

Terry, it is such a vivid and striking word picture. I felt the hot sun!

Like Catherine, I thought you might take up the challenge of these prompts - right up your alley! Well written.

Cheers
Shelley

I thought these prompts might stir your stumps Terry and I am so glad they did The reference to the golden web is good as well, nicely captured. I love the story so come on lets see you put it into the IPF as well, who knows what you might rustle up. I know I am shamelessly promoting it, but you all know it is a good comp and one we need to keep going. With all the hiccups the ICC have been having over the past 18 months we really do need to support IPF to endeavour to make sure it stays viable.

Thanks Maureen & Shelley

I think I have just got Lazy when it comes to writing poetry of late.
You're right of course these prompts did urge me to have a go.

I have in the past always entered Ipswich, in fact got I close to winning it a couple of years ago -
When does it close by the way? - must check!
As I mentioned Maureen I always admire the way you champion all forms of poetry, including bush poetry.

I know all you girls will enter Ipswich, so good luck.

Terry

Great work Terry, nothing stale about your verse here. I always remember the painter Corot's advice for how to succeed in art..." Take up the brush and begin "

Neville, you are so right with that piece of advice!

Last year I attended a writing workshop which was put on free to attendees by our local Council. It was called "Lines in the Sand" and it was excellent. One of the speakers was Aussie actor William McInnes (of Blue Heelers and Seachange) - who is also an acclaimed author.

One of the things he said was that anyone can write. Do you think you can't? He illustrated the point by reading us the conclusion of a book. Viewed simply as a piece of writing, it was really substandard - quite over the top in flowery description - and the way he read it had us in stitches. He asked whether we thought those were the words of a best seller. Then he revealed the title (no, not Fifty Shades of Grey). It was actually the conclusion to Goldfinger by Ian Fleming. Definitely a best seller and one of the most acclaimed of the James Bond series.

Then he asked, "Don't you think you could do better than that? Then what are you waiting for? Pick up your pen, and do it!"

Terry, the Closing date is : Friday, 2 August 2019 at 5.00 pm

The beauty of being able to do everything on line means that you can literally post an entry at 4.30 pm and get it in although I wouldn't leave it quite that late as sometimes their site gets really busy and there are delays in actioning the payments

Thanks Maureen

I dig up something if I don't get anything new written.

Neville & Shelley

My problem is not thinking of something to write, it's more a case of just getting motivated.
One thing about doing the odd Homework poem is it does tend to help to ignite a flicker of interest again.

I'm on a native gardening thing at the moment, trying to attract birds and native bees.

I'll post an old poem of mine on members; it was on the old site not sure if it's still there,
It gives a bit of an insight when I first started prospecting for gold with detectors.
We were among the first to give it ago in the mid seventies, it was a magic time, and very exciting as well.

Cheers Terry