ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Olive Sandell

Olive was sassy. Olive was smart.
If walking or skiing, she'd mastered her part.
She lived down in Melbourne, and worked as a clerk,
But up in the High Plains, she'd left a deep mark.

To match her great prowess in snow upon skis,
She also took photos with great expertise.
She loved the high mountains, and knew them all well.
A strong, gutsy woman was Olive Sandell.

With a party of women, she left Keppel's farm.
No one imagined they'd come to great harm;
Up past the mount, to the Taggerty Road.
None could conceive how their peace would explode.

The Cathedrals are rocky. They're high and they're steep.
Take care if you choose by their summit to creep.
No one saw Olive career down the face
Of a stretch of bare granite at blistering pace.

They called for the doctor at once, but alas,
Help came too late for this tough, sturdy lass.
It should have been heaven. It turned into hell,
All shocked by the death of poor Olive Sandell.

The death is now distant - November fourteen,
The year thirty seven, the prefix nineteen,
But all those who hike there, I think, would do well,
To learn from the lesson of Olive Sandell.

© Stephen Whiteside 09.09.2016

Wow, Stephen, what a great poem - its rhythm is really suited to the active nature of the woman and the energetic activity that claimed her life.

Just another example of events in history that so often pass us by and become forgotten. Good on you for bringing this sad tale to light!

Cheers
Shelley

Thank you, Shelley.

I love tales like this from history too Stephen, and really enjoyed this one. Like Shelley says, the rhythm you chose is perfect for it.

Thank you Catherine!