ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Romance of the River.
©Ron Boughton 3/21.
Alexandrina poured her heart out, from a river of love
Kissing Younghusbands cheek, they could be seen from far above!
For the lifeblood of the land, it began so far away,
As torrents flowed from a divide, where the snowy tops held sway!
Where gales could howl in a frenzy, just like a lover spurned,
But in a meandering river, calm is then returned.
And all the while she fosters, the surrounding lands survival
Until finally Alexandrina, hosts her arrival,
And she brought with her a Darling collected along the way
And together they meet the ocean …in whitewater and spray!

Majestic River Red Gums and the mighty Murray Cods,
Profit from the river, as do many a farmer’s sods!
And paddleboats on the river, transporting goods or folk,
At times emit, from their stacks, black fogs of rolling smoke!
The marriages of convenience, many and diverse
Of the river on its journey, can be …for better or worse!
Even Younghusband competes, with Princes, in Parallel line
Until Albert steers them away, with another road sign,
So on the edge of the Coorong, shaped, as the blade of a knife
With boobyalla posy he wonders, is there …Youngwife!

G/day Ron

There's something special about rivers and running water, isn't there?
And this system drains from the heart of this continent, no wonder the locals thought it sacred,
from it distant beginnings to where it pours into the sea.
You have painted a good picture with your words.

I'm off t o hospital (tomorrow) for a couple of days (nothing too serious) so will catch up with you all when I get out.

Cheers

Terry

Lovely to see you joining in our little group Ron. I like your incorporation of the regional areas around the Darling, Murray and Goolwa barrrages into your poem. The whole area is very beautiful, and steamboats/paddlewheelers and the Murray are always linked in my mind with the wonderful history on that area. Nicely done.

Thanks Terry, yes I think the river systems and the distance and terrain they traverse are intriguing.

All the best for your hospital visit mate.

Ron

Thanks so much Maureen, Yes it is a beautiful part of the world! Keep it on your bucket list, with the passion you have for it I am sure you'll make
it one day!
Ron

Good luck with your Hospital stay Terry - will be thinking of you and sending you healing hugs and wishes for a good recovery. Take it easy and catch up on some rest

Great to see you on the Writing Workshop team, Ron!

I love your husband/wife analogy with Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, knowing as we do that they were named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria (whose first name was Alexandrina).

I am still preparing my homework poem, but I'm on that same wavelength of the two lakes being "royal". We'll see where my effort goes!!

Terry - all the best for your hospital stay. They are never pleasant, even for so-called "minor" reasons. Get well soon!

Cheers
Shelley

Thank you so much Shelley, and yes it is interesting, to say the least, where a prompt or two can take you.

Cheers
Ron

Good to see you here, Ron...I totally agree with Shelley about your analogy, and there are some really beautiful, stand-out lines in this poem.

Thanks Catherine, I appreciate your feedback and positive comments.

Cheers Ron.