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Poems - The Course of Harold's Creek
| | The Course of Harold's Creekby liarbird
You haven’t heard of Harold’s Creek? That’s no surprise at all,
for few have ever walked amongst its flow.
The valley is quite steep where the manna gum grow tall,
with Correa, Banksia, or Dog Rose dense below.
Harold’s Creek is a feeder brook, flowing into Latrobe River,
but barely adds much water from it’s stream,
for it really needs high rainfall at its catchment to deliver,
so Harold’s Creek is token in the scheme.
But for me who loves my fishing and the passion of ‘alone,’
Harold’s Creek is rather special in a way,
not only is it still secluded but for most is quite unknown
in this pristine valley I would not betray.
There is no constant walking track to take beside the stream
and the high side is too sheer to try and climb,
the thickness of the wiregrass takes what matters to extreme,
for it halts the path of progress every time.
So I walk along the bed of rocks where water trickles through
up to a barricade engaged to hold a pool,
and in the stillness of clear water, I try to gain a closer view
where the crayfish often fossick as a rule.
And there’s also been a day when an eel has taken bait
or a little blackfish tugged upon my line
after darting from their shelter, unsuspecting of their fate.
It is catch and release; the blackfish will be fine.
There are logs from fallen trees that extend out from the edge
but mother nature won’t allow a vacuum
so raspberry, maiden hair, scramble through a misplaced sedge
and the shadow hides a crayfish I presume.
A whipbird cracks its whip through some thicket close to me,
but stays hidden ‘though I know it is on guard
And for a moment I do ponder on the things I never see,
then I saw a ditch that miners did discard.
Overgrown and dug uphill, leading back into the creek,
there is no sign of sluices miners used,
perhaps there is no gold that these miners chose to seek
so in Harold’s Creek the miners have been rused.
I felt the hair rise on my neck, after looking straight ahead
for there sunning on a rocks’ a tiger snake.
Tigers have a reputation of aggression so it’s said
therefore I will leave it be and keep awake.
I came across a logger’s track leading down from up the hill,
and sat upon a rotting stump to eat my lunch
a yellow robin clinging to a paperbark, lingered quiet and still
until distracted by some footsteps going crunch.
It appeared someone is walking down along the logger’s track
and dead leaves beneath their feet gave them away,
but when the snooping has been settled, the goanna turned it’s back
and scarpered up a valley gum tree in dismay.
Upstream along the course there seemed like little more to add,
although I found a lyrebird mound and feathers too,
a grey thrush nest from better days is crumbling just a tad
and thumping in the scrub could be a kangaroo.
So in the throng of nature calling, and a gentle cascade fall,
I decided from the next bend I’ll return.
The rocks of large formation shaped good cover and a wall
for a trout that’s swimming underneath a fern.
You haven’t heard of Harold’s Creek? That’s no surprise at all,
for few have ever walked amongst its flow.
The valley is quite steep where the manna gum grow tall,
and its a paradise I’m pleased I got to know.
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Re: The Course of Harold's Creek
(Score: 1 )
by thewholesoul on Sunday, September 27, 2009 (23:18:06) |
you live in the country Lindsay or do you just head out there for the fishing? it sounds brimming with wild life - your passion for nature really comes through in this and all of your poems. favourite line was "but for me who loves my fishing and the passion of ‘alone' " take it easy, conor
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Re: The Course of Harold's Creek
(Score: 1 )
by Melly on Monday, September 28, 2009 (19:49:28) |
I would love to go fishing with you in your secret place. What kind of fish do you catch there? My favorite are crappie but bull head are fun to catch because they put up a good fight. Sounds beautiful. Hugs Melly
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Re: The Course of Harold's Creek
(Score: 1 )
by maryanns on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 (01:38:34) |
Simply beautiful, Lindsay... such an enjoyable read, I feel I've been to Harold's Creek as well. Good that its now left alone to run its course to harbor a wealth of wildlife. I hope it gets a spot of rain. Best wishes, Mary Ann
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Re: The Course of Harold's Creek
(Score: 1 )
by butterflyzrfree on Thursday, October 01, 2009 (16:42:42) |
Wish I could go there...Great write!
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Re: The Course of Harold's Creek
(Score: 1 )
by rondo on Wednesday, October 07, 2009 (01:57:02) |
Always a beautiful read....followed by a yearning to see the great outback............rondo
Added on: 26-Sep-2009 | Hits: 299 |
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