THE CALL OF THE OUTBACK

[Terry]

I think I put up a very rough version of this a long time ago, I don't think I have ever put this one up, I haven't gone over it with a fine toothed comb so to speak, so hope it's not too bad - Terry


THE CALL OF THE OUTBACK

I wonder what it really is that draws me back each day,
is it the outback calling, urging me to head this way?
What looks like miles of nothingness may greet the untrained eye,
but somehow gets into your blood; it’s hard to reason why.
I leave it for a while at times, but never for too long,
for loneliness soon touches me, despite the city throng.

The bush has compensations bringing peacefulness of mind;
the country folk you meet there; fellow nomads of my kind.
And I can see such beauty where some others may see none,
and love the sound of silence, like old timers must have done.
So when I take a trip away, I know it’s not for long,
I’m fed up very quickly with the nightlife drink and song.

I live the life I want to live, not ruled by clock or phone,
the sun’s my only timepiece and the choice is mine alone.
There’s time to listen to the birds and view the scene at hand,
to pause and breathe the fresh air as it drifts across the land.
I pick a place to camp and stay a month or just a day,
depends on how I’m feeling, but I do it my own way.

I’ve tried to fit into the life that most Australians live,
down in the noisy cities; gave the best that I could give.
But soon was suffocating in a sea of stressed mankind,
trapped in a concrete forest where my life was too confined.
There’s hustle and there’s rushing with the constant tramp of feet,
and I was out there with them as they pound a city street.

My heart was never in it and my mind was miles away,
I missed the open spaces; grew more restless by the day.
I knew I had to leave that life, it wasn’t meant for me,
and urgings grew much stronger as the time approached to flee.
The wilderness was calling, quietly whispering to me, (Quietly I'm told is three syllables I'm using it as two)
and nights were full of distant dreams, of where I ought to be.

I felt a sense of freedom as I left that life behind,
my spirits were soon soaring; I again had peace of mind.
I took up where I left off in the gold fields of the west,
prospecting for a living; It’s the life that I love best.
You see the changing country as you’re always on the move,
you choose a road to follow, and there’s nothing more to prove.

I still go to the city for a visit once a year,
and I can see the reason why my heart belongs out here.
And people from the city feel the same about their town,
they hate the isolation of the outback dry and brown.
With numbers slowly dwindling, the future looks quite bleak,
my way of life is fading, disappearing as I speak.


© T.E. Piggott 2/11/2010

[Irene]

It certainly isn't too bad, Terry!!
A wonderful poem indeed, and it captures your love of the bush so well.
I can remember travelling up through the Pilbara a couple of years ago, and, instead of reading - which I had intended to do - I found myself spending hours looking out over the spinifex & mulga covered plains!! As you say, there is a beauty in many areas that some people never see!!

Thanks again for coming up to Cervantes on the weekend - it was great to have you there. I had good feedback from the committee, and have had several people come through the surgery the last couple of days who said how much they enjoyed listening to the poetry.

Catchya
Irene

[Terry]

Thanks Irene,
The weekend was really enjoyed by all, I was surprised by size of the whole festival and the number of people who rolled up on the Friday evening. I have just realized that my entrance ticket included a free drink, Damn, I wonder If I can still use it next year?
Hope to checkout Boyup Brook in the new year as well.
This is my second effort, I meant to tell you first up but forgot.
I've started a poem on the Pinnacles, If and when I get it finished I'll send you a copy, you maybe surprised at the slant I'm taking on it, the idea came while I was looking at them.

Cheers Terry

[David J Delaney]

G'day Terry, mate I so enjoy reading this, I vaguely remember the 'old' one but can't remember the differences, anyway looking forward to the 'Pinnacles' one.

Keep up the excellent writing eh!

[Terry]

G/day David,
Thanks mate, It's always great to hear that someone enjoys a poem you've written.
I'm doing lightning raids into the site, read a couple and make the odd comment. It's going to take awhile to read all the post as I have barely skimmed the surface so far, I'm heading off fishing for a couple of days so will get further behind, but hope to catch up one day.

Cheers Terry

[Heather]

Love it Terry.

I thought I posted a comment here yesterday but today it is gone - I must be going batty!

Heather

[David J Delaney]

Just came back to read this for the 'umpteenth' time, geeeeze Terry you're making my feet ichy.

[Terry]

Thanks Heather,
How's the writing going, I have two or three on the go at the moment, must settle down and try to finish a couple of them.

Terry



G/day David,
Just back from the fishing trip, which is my way escaping the city, when I'm not chasing gold.
I'll have to find some time over the next couple of days to catch up and read some more
of what's posted on the site, including the rest of what you have posted here.

Cheers Terry

[Heather]

Just finished another one Terry - another war one. Must be going through a phase!

[Terry]

G/day Heather,
You have certainly done a good job on the war poems that I've seen so far, congratulation once again on your Cervantes HC

Cheers Terry