Saturday, May 2, 2009

Flushed with Success

SCENIC SUNDAY
comes round again.
Lake Mulwala is a man-made lake near Yarrawonga where we have just holidayed. To make the lake, a large number of trees had to be submerged. It looks quite forbidding during the day but it is transformed at dusk. It is also full of fish so it is a great tourist attraction to fishermen.


FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS!


Lake Mulwala. At first it seems
Unreal, like something in our dreams.
Or, maybe, nightmares, for they've died.....
The trees by which the boats must glide.
Those trees so still, so dark, so gaunt,
Almost seem to loom and haunt.
They died by drowning, every one,
And now they face the blazing sun,
Without the benefit of leaves.
Each one a phantom that still grieves;
Grieves for the days that used to be
When each one was a living tree.
*
But evening comes! What transformation!
A victory for re-creation!
The flush of pink lights lake and sky.
The cockatoos come flying by
And perch for safety on each tree.
How restful the long night will be.
No predator can reach them here!
And a thousand other birds appear.
The trees' reflections dance awhile
And a pale moon; rising, seems to smile.
Then we realise we can see
How living a dead tree can be.
*

More scenery here:

11 comments:

diane b said...

What beautiful colours, so calming. Lovely verse too as always.

Jo said...

Beautiful photograph, Brenda. I wasn't aware that to make a lake, trees had to be submerged. Shows how I'm learning from your posts! Do the trees float in the water, don't they ever topple over?

Anonymous said...

Wonderful poetry. And beautiful sunset and reflections in the picture. I find the trees unsettling - a drowned forest, a bit eerie...but then, I like haunting-looking things :)

Kat said...

Was startled seeing the picture and the way you've picturised it in poem.

Had been to similar place long back in Kerala (India).

Please see in below link, similar trees..!!!


http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/12/12/38/thekkady-periyar-lake.jpg

Sylvia K said...

Marvelous shots and wonderful words/thoughts to go with them! Always enjoy both!

Have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Dimple said...

Lovely colors in this. The poem adds to the colors, just in a different way!

Linda Jacobs said...

Rarely do I read a rhyming poem that stays on subject and makes the rhyme work well. Yours is perfect! And the ending is great!

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful poem and a wonderful sunset. The colors are amazing.

Light and Voices said...

Wowza!
Joyce-Illinois

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

The reflection is just incredible. Beautiful shot.

Beautiful poem. I can't write poems and I have to teach my students poems, Isn't it a laugh. i tell them 2 rhymes and 3 facts.

Hildred said...

Starkly beautiful, and a great poem.