The sun shone down relentlessly for days, and days, and days
Heat dried out everything exposed to those burning rays
And when the human heart was worn with sweat and toil
The fires started burning, and my blood was on the boil.
Small fires started everywhere there was anything to burn
And then the winds came up, left nowhere we could turn.
Fires built up power and speed, the Red Steer in stampede
"Save yourself !" was the cry , in this time of need
But the Red Steer on a rampage would not be denied
Many people perished, many more broke down and cried
No home left to go to, no place left to call your own
Some friends are still missing, no answer when you phone
Memories now just ashes, small treasures from your past
Are now gone forever in that raging furnace blast
There is sadness in the Nation, and you know that we all care
We pray for deliverance from the pain and heartbreak there,
We pray for Mother nature to turn things right around
Bring rain to the fire areas, start new growth from the ground
Give strength to all who suffered, to those who fought and tried
To quell those raging fires, and remember those who died.
People are resilient, they won't just sit and mope
Beacuse the human spirit will endure while ever there is hope
Author notes
Red Steer is a name for a fire out of control
A contest entry
- Prayers For The Lost Due To Bushfires Here. by Poetryintheblood.
710 points, ended February 13, 2009, 12 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Appreciate Australia - Battling Mother Nature by Shari-Lei.
4000 points, ended February 22, 2009, 18 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
comments
Comments
1 - 35 of 35
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Good
done a great job and are talented you have painted a clear vision of what you want others to see and feel.. There were no errors. No typo's and nothing to change as far as i can see. I look forward to your next one.
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I appreciate your visit and comments my friend, thank you. Sadly this poem was in response to devastating fires in Australia which caused extensive devastation and loss of life.
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this is a good write. i do, however, think that if you used the proper capitalization, it would look better on the page. thank you for sharing this with me today and i am looking forward to reading more from you in the near future. viyanna rosemarie
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Thank you for your comments and thoughts on Wildfire. I appreciate all feedback.
I do have question re proper capitalisation. What do you mean by that? I am a very poor typist and have little knowledge of typing skills.
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The sun shone down relentlessly for days, and days, and days
Heat dried out everything exposed to those burning rays
And when the human heart was worn with sweat and toil
The fires started burning, and my blood was on the boil.
Small fires started everywhere there was anything to burn
And then the winds came up, left nowhere we could turn.
Fires built up power and speed, the Red Steer in stampede
"Save yourself !" was the cry , in this time of need
But the Red Steer on a rampage would not be denied
Many people perished, many more broke down and cried
No home left to go to, no place left to call your own
Some friends are still missing, no answer when you phone
Memories now just ashes, small treasures from your past
Are now gone forever in that raging furnace blast
There is sadness in the Nation, and you know that we all care
We pray for deliverance from the pain and heartbreak there,
We pray for Mother nature to turn t
can it
don't like it
no good
what is this?
buzz off
go walk your dog
stand on the corner
or
write something else -
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Your comment is hardly worth responding to. I guess it takes all sorts to make a world.
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The sun shone down relentlessly for days, and days, and days
Heat dried out everything exposed to those burning rays
And when the human heart was worn with sweat and toil
The fires started burning, and my blood was on the boil.
Small fires started everywhere there was anything to burn
And then the winds came up, left nowhere we could turn.
Fires built up power and speed, the Red Steer in stampede
"Save yourself !" was the cry , in this time of need
But the Red Steer on a rampage would not be denied
Many people perished, many more broke down and cried
No home left to go to, no place left to call your own
Some friends are still missing, no answer when you phone
Memories now just ashes, small treasures from your past
Are now gone forever in that raging furnace blast
There is sadness in the Nation, and you know that we all care
We pray for deliverance from the pain and heartbreak there,
We pray for Mother nature to turn t
can it
don't like it
no good
what is this?
buzz off
go walk your dog
stand on the corner
or
write something else -
Judged
The last line perfectly sums up humanity, and our way of life.
Hope is enough to spur us on.
Rebuilding will come and things can be replaced. People can't and that is sad, knowing that people are dead and/or missing presumed dead is just gut wrenching.
Your words are honest, and they describe the incident so well. From start til now.
Thank you for entering my contest and good luck
Shari
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Thank you Shari, I appreciate your appraisal of 'Wildfire'. I have fought fires in my younger days and know the horror and heartbreak. I have also sat in the street and watched my own home disappear in smoke and flames. I tried to put my feelings into the poem. Thanks again
Bob
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Excellent.
This poem really touched me, it's so well written.
Congrats on the Bronze.
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I appreciate your feedback very much. Thanks for commenting. I just wanted to highlight the tragedy and the indomitable human spirit of those affected by it all.
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Just wonderful, Bob. This brought a tear to my eye. It says everything that is happening and doesn't look like letting up just yet. I never knew Red steer was the name for a fire out of control. Boy though, that sun tonight looked mighty angry! This is tremendous and congratulate you.
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I fought a fire for months when I was just a teenager. The same fire. The powers that be gave every volunteer some time at the face of the fire when it came out of the hills which were inaccessable. We had no helicopters and such those days and it was hell. We cold only stay for about an hour at a time and change over, have a rest, take some deep breaths and go back again. I really feel for the animals in the bush. I know there are people there now doing what they can, but the poor buggers have been to hell and back
Yourcomments are much appreciated.
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Thank you for your prayers and thoughts and for such a heartfelt entry, Josie
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I thank you for the opportunity to add my poem to the contest. A real disaster on such a massive scale. Thank you for the bronze trophy. There were some great poems entered.
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Well written Bob, so sad...keep the faith, mary...
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Many thanks Mary. I have complete confidence that those devastated areas will be reborn again. The Aussie spirit will prevail against all odds and Mother Nature will take care of her handiwork as she has always done. Humanity is very resilient.
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Very good
I won't even try to critique poetry, but yours actually do tell a story. It's very smooth to read and to understand. I will definetly read more. You must have just written this one. I think you should put it on the group and some of your stories too.
Great writing.
Trish -
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Your comments are much appreciated Trish. This poem was written and posted soon after the first fire storm caused so much devastation. Fires are still going, almost a million acres now burnt out, 1000 homes lost and 181 lives also lost. Will thing about putting something in the group.
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I've been reading the news about these fires (since I don't have TV) and it is aweful
So much devestation and loss! May the rain come swift and douse the blazes.
Fire in all forms is a horrible experience. We had a hay field catch fire in 1988, I was only 12 then but was terrified to tears. For years after I had nightmares about fire... In 2003, our home caught fire and bured, a total loss but we all made it out safely. I stopped fearing fire but am very aware of how hungry and restless a blaze is and feel very much for Australia.
s and best wishes always... ~Genie~
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Genie, this bush fire season is a real doozy. No one even thought of such devastation and destruction happening. One million acres burnt out, over 1000 homes gone and 181 lives lost in a weekend. Fires are still burning in a number of places in Victoria and some in NSW too. I lost my home years ago and have fought a few fires when younger, but nothing like this utter devastation on such a massive scale.
Many thanks for your comments and thoughts.
Bob
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Oooooops...
Didn't realise that I'd already commented
Still a GREAT poem second time around reading 
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Funny you should say it's still a great poem, I have re-read it myself a few times now and am pleased with it. usually I find something I missed when writing. Not to say it can't be improved, but it does say what I wanted it to.
Thanks again, Julie.
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When I read your poem I could appreciate the feeling of the roaring fire. I am a former firefighter. Wildfires are truly amazing. Your poem not only fits the current situation in Australia, but also other horrible wildfires we have had in here in the US including Peshtigo, Hinkley, Mann Gulch, and Storm King Mountain.
You have done a great job.
Mike
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Mike, I am pleased that my poem struck a chord with you as a former firefighter.
Only someone who has either fought such fires or survived them, can appreciate the tremendous heat generated and the astounding speed at which the wildfire moves.
There is no defence against these fires.
Thank you for you knowledgeable comments.
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Great Write !
Well done Bob
I am listening to the radio at the moment and the death toll is now up to 173 and still rising
so, so horrific and beyond comprehension.
We have friends near Camperdown, Victoria. We left there on Saturday after spending a few days with them. Not long after we'd left a fire broke out in their area. They put sprinklers on all around the perimeter of the house yard and luckily it was saved. They lost the chook shed, a machinery shed and one bull.
I ...like many, just can't believe that in some cases these fires are being deliberately lit
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Many thanKs Julie. I wrote and posted this on three sites so the rest of the world would know. The magnitude of the tragedy is beyond belief, and the whole world knows without me doing anything. I can't believe that there people lighting fires deliberaately, but it is a fact. NSW has one in jail at present. In Vic it has been said that someone was relighting the fires in devastated areas and presenting fresh problems for the firefighters.
Why ? I can never understand that sort of thing at all.
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To true Bob
"People are resilient, they won't just sit and mope
Because the human spirit will endure while ever there is hope".
In Aug,1992 the California valley in which my brother-in-law ranched lost 64,000 acres and 600 buildings to a bushfire that took out two towns. Both towns rebuilt
I think this is an appropriate time to quote "Yes we can!"
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Yes James, people are resiliant and they will rebuild, just as they did after the last tragic fires 26 years ago. The acreage involved here is well over 500 thousand acres already and the fires are still going. With help from the nation everything will rise again from the ashes. It is an appropriate time to say "Yes we can."
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Very well written my friend. It has been a terrible time for so many.
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Thanks John. This tragedy is a rare occurrence in a country where bushfires are the norm every summer. This one became a fire storm and there is no defence against such things.
My heart goes out to everyone affected.
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When fire destroys everything...
I've listened and seen about this tragedy on TV. Many people were dead and many homes were destroyed. Only tears in their eyes and a huge dispair in their heart.
Affected people need to be strong enough and go on life.
I hope rain comes and extinguishs the fire.
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Thanks Jasmine, for your thoughts and comments. Two states in Australia have big bushfires burning: Victoria is where the tragic losses have occurred, 3 small towns of 200 people virtually wiped out, 750 homes reduced to ashes, and 136 people dead. Fires are still out of control and may do more damage. Their are five big fires in Victoria. NSW also has fires, something like 40 separate outbreaks. However only 3 are of any size. So far no deaths in NSW and very little property damage.
I have a concern for the wildlife, birds, possums bandicoots, wombats, koalas, wallabys, kangaroos, snakes and lizards. They have no protection at all from fires such as these. Some will survive to repopulate the area as it recovers from the fires, some will have died a most horrible death.
Most of those who have survived will go back, after a period of grieving, and will rebuild new homes on the site of the old ones. It will take a little time.
26 years ago another wild fire, similar to this lot swept through parts of Victoria and South Australia, those burnt out areas have all been rebuilt.
The forests will recover, as they are mostly eucalypts with very deep roots: by spring they will all have new shoots on them. Mother Nature regenerates her creations.
Thank you again.
Bob
PS We are hundreds of kilometres from the nearest fire, we are OK
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Bob
I wonder how many really are aware of this tragedy? I pray from a cool rain to quench the thirst of your mother nations Earth my Friend.
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It is many years since I fought a bush fire but I recall the heat moving in front of the actual fire, Often the real cause of the deaths. The victims die from dry heat and lack of oxygen. I don't know how many people are unaware of the size of this tragedy, it's all over the TV here and the radio. Everyone must know in Aussie, the rest of the world; I couldn't say.
We pray for rain, down there, on those fires.
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