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Daisy was just a simple girl, and she came from Mungindi,
where parched earth is all around, until it meets the sky,
a land of endless flies and heat, where rain is hardly known
and the Barwon ambles sleepily, by banks of sand and stone.
Just normal scenery for women, who were outback grown.
Daisy had a husband really tough and Charlie was his name,
the father of ten strong kids, was his biggest claim to fame.
Each day was spent in the saddle, his normal daily grind,
tending mobs of cattle, a better horseman you’ll never find.
Just a normal day’s work, as outback men are so inclined.
Dauntless, Daisy stayed at home, the ten kids she raised alone,
fetched water by the bucketful, over paddocks drier than a bone.
Sunday dinner was a grand event, plenty heaped upon the plate,
but always at the hardwood table, Grace was said before they ate.
Just the way things are done, by those outback women great.
And when the drought continued, as droughts always tend to do,
food was in short supply, so they lived on possum, birds and ‘roo.
They ate the prickly pear fruit, and emus took an hour to chew,
cockatoos had to be boiled all day, when making “Cocky Stew”.
But that is not unusual, just things the Outback women knew.
Prickly pear ran rampant, nothing stopped the invading scourge,
smothering barren earth, until sky and horizon seemed to merge.
Fire had no real effect and it grew faster than one could cut,
engulfing all in its way, including Charlie and Daisy’s hut.
Surrender is not an outback word, and stuck in Daisy’s gut.
So to the city they all went, and Charlie traded horse for truck,
worked in the city noise and grime, with his usual stubborn pluck.
Daisy toiled and raised her brood, as they settled into city ways,
until WW2 loomed large before and made dark their future days.
But fighting was a part of them, for those outback folk amaze.
Daisy waited five years for them, her heart full of pain and sorrow,
proud heart in her chest, fearing a telegram come on the ’morrow.
Six sons went off to war and six came back safe and sound,
they had fought the invading hoards, that were Australia bound.
Those women taught their sons to treasure their Outback ground.
I never heard her complain or worry, about the perils of the world,
she took each problem head on, whether it curved or spun or whirled.
She always had a kind word and the time to give a knowing smile,
though she had endured hardships, she was brimful of guts and guile.
That is the way they were, those outback women of our Aussie isle.
.A tribute to my Grandmother Daisy Thompson, tough yet resilient, hard yet soft hearted, understanding and caring .... were only some of her qualities. God bless her for she taught me so much without saying.... she taught by example and showed it could be done.
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A contest entry
- Women of the West/ Frontier/Highlands/ Wilderness/Outback #72 by Lyndon.
2600 points, ended May 6, 2008, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Wonderful story about your Grand Mother Bazza, they sure did have it tough back in those days,they never had the luxuries we have today, but life was a lot more simple than it is now, I'm glad all her Son's made it safely home from the war.
It's been a long time since we've spoken, hope all is well.
I'm just visiting all my favourites so bye for now my friend
Love Joan
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Awesome job! I really felt the emotion behind this piece! An A+ job! Keep up the awesome work adn thanks so much for the share! I really am looking forward to reading more of your work....which I probably have already............ I read a lot of stuff on here and try to comment on everyones....Sorry for my mindless ramblings.............HAHA!!!!!
Again.....Thanks so much for the brilliant write and share! Good luck with future writes....but judging from this, you don't really need much luck!!!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~**~Heroesrox~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~* -
this was absolutely splendid;
she sounds like quite a gal...
the best tribute
and very special.
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Wow. This is quite a piece. Interesting. Strong. A story line that humbles. Well done. What a wonderful tribute.
Best of luck in the judging. ~Pamela
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Great Job
It flows very well and rhymes well. The story it tells is excellent. It is a great tribute to your grandmother. I especially liked the fourth verse. I knew families growing up that ate woodchuck, beaver, and wild greens. The were proud and hard working.
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well done
Flows well. Good rhyme and rhythm. Interesting story.
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this poem is amazing. i love the rhyme scheme you used. best of luck in the contest.
Keira
--- pink.glitter.hearts -
Wonderful Tribute
I think that in so many ways women all over the world have generally more courage and staying power in tough times than most menfolk. Anyway this is a wonderful ballad tribute to your grandmother and really showcases the toughness required to be an Aussie. Myself would like to someday visit but probably not to live there. Wonderful work, Barry.; thanks for sharing
Erik
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What a wonderful Aussie bush ballad to your grandmother, they were made of stern stock in the outback. I can just hum along in the lilt and rhyme of this. Well done...I can never resist this type of story poem of old Aussie days. Love, C
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All I can say is I wish I had known her, Bazza!
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