ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Of Christmas past

Where the Ranges kiss the Valley with the shadows that they cast
and the old house seems to echo with the voices from the past.
As the ghosts of yesteryear surround me standing here once more
and old memories resurface now, of Christmas time before.

In my mind’s eye I can see it as it was so long ago,
back when this old house was rocking to its yearly festive show.
With the old home crammed there to the rafters every Christmas day,
when the families would gather, in the good old Aussie way.

So, a tinge of sadness touches me when looking at this scene
and remembering those happy days, and how things had once been.
Now a derelict old building full of memories of joy,
of the way that Christmas used to be when I was just a boy.

I stir at last the daydream ends and face reality once more,
knowing life has changed forever from the way things were before.
Yet my spirit is uplifted as the memories return,
of a happy special childhood, that my heart will always yearn.

++++++

©T.E. Piggott

Wow! You had me in from that first line Terry ‘Where the Ranges kiss the valley with the shadows that they cast’! what a beautiful descriptive line, and only one of many in the poem.
And yes great to have those old memories, before the consumer driven festive seasons that we have today.
Really liked it mate, well done.
Cheers
Ron.

Thanks Ron

I was using a variation of that first line in a new poem I'm trying to write,
and realized that with a slight tweaking it would describe the setting for my Grandparents old farm house as well.
Which is where we spent many great Christmas days, and all the extended families would endeavor to be there.
Mum's and Dad's, Uncles and Aunts and of course all us kids would join Grandma And Granddad - 'Ah' happy days.

Terry

That is beautifully crafted Terry - a real nostalgic feel to it as well that I am sure will stir up similar memories for quite a few of us.

Hope you and yours have a lovely Christmas

Thanks Maureen

I feel I seem to spend a lot of time living in the past these days - probably too much.

Terry