Bush Dawning: A Bush Poem

Tried my hand at Bush Poetry for the Words In Winter Trentham festival.  The prompt was Origins. I was familiar with Banjo Patterson but not many other bush poets.  It’s safe to say my pentameter was not perfect but I learnt a lot today from listening to the other writers.  There were some engaging historical tales told through lyrical, trundling lines and we were lucky enough to hear the judge, the Best Performance Bush Poet in Australia, recite a bush poem for us.  There was only one winner of the competition, and a tie for second place, for which I was one of the fortunate two.  I hope you enjoy my poem.

 

Bush Dawning

An orange haze peeks through

And warms the bush horizon

Filtered light through gallant gums

Gentlemen of the skyline

 

The insects begin to murmur

And the animals raise their heads

The dawn lifts her eyelids

To stir the sleepy from their beds

 

The people of the bush arise

And pad with ghost-like feet

To catch an animal off guard

A perfect breakfast eat

 

The billabong begins to liven

As the sun elevates the gloom

With the bubbling, fishes frolic

And the platypus leaves her cozy room

 

The sun’s morning yawn

Raises the temperature of the air

The lizards nod their heads

To show that they’re aware

 

A billy starts to boil

For the day’s inaugural cup of tea

The flies buzz in anticipation

The bush awake now, finally