ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

LOST TREASURE
I looked across the silver sands where dunes and ocean met;
so desolate this place; as far away as you can get.
The angry sea swept up the beach to crash against a dune,
I watched it slowly disappear beneath the bright full moon.

My sleep that night was restless and was full of strange new dreams,
the spirit world had come alive to visit here it seems.
A mighty ship was foundering upon this very beach,
and drowning men were cast ashore to leave their bones to bleach.

The tempest raged around her and it lashed the heaving deck,
her sails were rent asunder there aboard the crumbling wreck.
An eerie wind howled through the shrouds; the water icy cold,
beneath her deck a wooden chest that’s full of Yankee gold.

She’d hit the outer reef destroying timbers underneath,
then gnawed the battered carcass like a thousand grinding teeth.
I dreamt I’d stood there helpless; there was nothing I could do,
but fight back tears at what I saw of passengers and crew.

For I could hear so clearly then the anguished cries for help,
and saw their bodies washed ashore still tangled in the kelp.
While all the time the dark sea roared as though this were a duel,
and only blood would satisfy the ocean harsh and cruel.

The morning dawned with gentle seas and all was calm once more,
the ocean had receded back to where it was before.
The beach swept clean again as though to wash its sins away,
for surely something once took place within this hidden bay.

I strolled along the beach that day the dream still on my mind,
I wonder still what made me look for clues that I might find.
Yet there upon the beach near where the sand dune used to be,
a golden coin lay gleaming, now uncovered by the sea.

© T.E. Piggott

Love it Terry - it's a pearler and this is a great line

then gnawed the battered carcass like a thousand grinding teeth.

Excellent word pictures - the scene visualized so easily - well done - I really like it.

Cheers

Maureen

Terry this is a beautiful piece of work. I felt I was there as I read.
Love it!

Dot

Ditto for what Dot said Mate.

I will pinch one of Mannys sayings.

" A picture paints a thousand words but when words paint a picture That's Poetry '

and you have nailed it .

Cheers Bob

I enjoyed it too Terry and i also like the line about the gnawing teeth.

Heather

Thanks Friends,

Hi Maureen & thanks for the kind words.
This one started out quite different to how it ended.
I'd written a shorter poem before going to bed on Friday night
and then lay thinking if you're going to write a poem, try to justice to it.
It sort of grew from there.

G/day Dolly
Haven't had contact for awhile, it's good to hear from you again.
Glad you enjoyed this one.

G/day Bob,
I don't write a lot about the sea but always enjoy it when I do.
Thanks for the compliment mate - much appreciated.

Hi Heather
One thing with my knee problems it does leave me with plenty of time to write - if I can get motivated.
I am writing the odd shorter poem, but can't be bothered anything longer at the moment.
I'm pleased you enjoyed it Heather.

Once again thanks everyone.

Terry

There's usually an "upside" Terry, even if it is sometimes that there are people worse off than ourselves. For us it is that you write more poetry!

And there's an upside for us to Heather, we get to enjoy it. Another great one Terry.

Sue

Thanks Heather & Sue,

My biggest problem is the frustration of not even being able to even go for a bit of a walk.
But as you say there are others far worse off than me.

Cheers Terry