Page 19 - eMuse Vol.9 No.08

Little E muse
Little Emuse

OUR POETRY KIDS

Thank you to Carol Moore of the
Y KIDS
OUR POETR
Ipswich Library Service for permission
to re-publish winning poems from the
with Brenda Joy
with Br enda Jo y
2019 Ipswich Poetry Feast.
Both poems previously published on
Black Saturday
by Amaeh Reed
It was high summer in Australia, in February 2009
when the bushfires struck Victoria,
the worst fires of all time. Third Place a stony silence did descend
When smoke and flames devoured 11 — 13 years and the people of those ravaged towns
the gentle bushland green finally saw the end
and history now records, the worst fires ever seen. of those terrible, destructive fires
The weeks before the firestorms, that tore their world apart,
an extreme heatwave began. but the fires did not beat them –
The sun beat down mercilessly no, they did not take their heart.
upon a parched and blistering land. But still today, we remember,
And eyes, both in city and country, turned wistfully in vain all those beautiful souls we lost.
their faces towards the withering skies, So much death and destruction –
but alas, there was no rain. such an awful, appalling cost.
We pause each year to remember,
At last, at last, a storm did come, but no rain did it bring, that terrible, fateful day
instead it bought dry thunderstorms – the bushfires that ravaged our nation
thrashing thunder, flashing lighting. on that bitter ‘Black Saturday’.
The Lightning God Zeus lit up the sky,
in a crazy, diabolical plan. © 2019, Amaeh Reed (at age 11)
The wild winds roared- lightning struck –
the bushfire began! Tricked
8 — 10 years
Small fires joined together to become raging fire fronts by Sam Hollier Second Place
that roared towards homesteads, seemingly all at once. One day, when I had my lunch
Darkness fell throughout the day, I came across a little bunch
choking smoke filled the night. of what looked like some tiny sweets
Desperate firefighters did their best so I took a bite of these red treats.
to put up a valiant fight
Something caused my tongue to tickle
But it was too late, the fire had taken and I found myself, in a REAL pickle.
a vicious life of its own. For that tickle, grew to a strong burn
It torn down power lines and fences, and so I was, about to learn…
and ravaged people’s homes.
And all throughout the firestorm, These were no lollies that I ate,
the north easterly winds did shriek instead, were chillies on Dad’s plate.
as town and farm fell before the flames, Now, I was about to meet my doom.
the outlook was terribly bleak. The pain became unbearable, and then Kaboom!
People fled small country towns – I spat it out, but the heat did stay.
there was no time to waste I tried to water it, but it didn’t go away.
as families frantically packed treasured belongings, I ran to the fridge and began to glug
in a terrible, desperate haste. the whole entire milk jug.
As embers rained down from the heavens, Aaaaaaaah! That’s better.
from the fire filled, orange sky
gentle bushland creatures in the smoking flames did die. © Sam Hollier, 2019 (at age 10)
And on, throughout the terrible time, Thank you to Carol Moore of the Ipswich Library Service
people rallied to each other’s side for permission to re-publish winning poems from the
as fire raged around them, 2019 Ipswich Poetry Feast.
their courage they did not hide.
Communities banded together, Both poems previously published on the IPF website –
fighting desperately to save www.ipswichpoetryfeast.com.au
their friends and neighbours’ properties –
a mighty effort they gave.
And when at last, the fires waned,

August 2020 eMuse 19