Sunrise On the Living Desert

Streaks of pink 'cross morning skies.
Land shaded lemon; last star dies…
Lightening blue spreads far and wide,
a half red sun. New dawn’s arrived.	

This living desert yawns and wakes.
A foreign sparrow flits and takes
what morsel that darkness denied
to night feeders who now hide.

The sun begins its golden rise.
Shadows bear before my eyes.
Range of mountains now in view
look purple hazed and crumpled too.

A gentle breeze blows cool and soft.
A drifting hawk soars past aloft.
A static call echo's the morning.
Somewhere close, the first days warning.

There's golden bloom on mulga's face,
saltbush combines in shadow space,
a  rabbit warren mounds the sand!
Three's company seems hand in hand.

The rugged hillside carved away,	
gorged and furrowed brown and gray.
Eroded sand displays the shale,
where layered seams look to impale.

Tufted grasses dry and withered,
amongst that broken shale that slivered.
Stand out quartz already bright;
The rising sun turns glistening white.

A different swallow, black and white;
blue backed wrens dart out of sight.
Sunning now on walking tracks,
lay together; shingle backs.

And now the scene spreads far and wide,
to struggling wattle; sheer cliff side.
On closer look near at the base,
three kangaroos take a two-step pace.

Stillness lingers, there's an unknown call,
what bird is that? I love them all!
And the red plain grows beneath blue skies,
as the living desert welcomes sunrise.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Babcock Avatar
August 25, 2015 at 5:51 PM
Stunning poem as you describe the desert Lindsay. love phyl
Laurie Avatar
August 31, 2015 at 3:56 AM
It was just after dawn near the Mundi Mundi Plains where I took this in Phyllis. It was stunning and so peaceful - Lindsay
Wigley Avatar
May 23, 2015 at 11:52 PM
Simply brilliant, Lindsay. Reminds me of a sunrise I embraced in the Namib desert a few years back. Can't decribe the colours, but you've managed it effortlessly. Regards, Viv
Laurie Avatar
May 26, 2015 at 2:23 AM
G'day Viv... this was a lemon sunrise, not like some red sunrises I've witnessed, but the location was terrific. I'm about to check out the Namib desert... it sounds interesting. Thanks mate - Lindsay
Lindley Avatar
May 23, 2015 at 11:20 AM
Awesome write my friend. Another gem for me to add to my fav list this morn..A7 and thanks.. PM on the way..
Laurie Avatar
May 26, 2015 at 2:20 AM
G'day Robert... thanks for reading and commenting Robert. I trust the recital went well for you - I truly appreciate what you did - Lindsay
Nunez Avatar
May 7, 2015 at 8:41 PM
Wow, you took us on a tour! Awesome imagery, Lindsay. Have you been camping out again? A 7. :)
Laurie Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 9:04 PM
Yes Kim, it was a wonderful tour. Sunrise, alone, quiet apart from bird song, and a remarkable landscape. I was staying in a caravan at Broken Hill for a few days. Thank you Kim - Lindsay
Andresen Avatar
May 7, 2015 at 3:12 AM
- A pleasure to read your beautiful poem, Lindsay :) - A lovely way to start my day - Thanks ! - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Laurie Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 8:56 PM
Thank you Anne Lise... I'm pleased that you got some pleasure out of reading one of my landscape poems - catch you soon - Lindsay
Pinet Avatar
May 6, 2015 at 9:45 AM
Like a master painter you apply color to your words and create a masterpiece that surges up from your heart and splashes against the page. Well done. #7
Laurie Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 8:54 PM
Hello Emile... I can't help but think that your comment surpasses my poem. Thank you Emile, its a beaut comment that I appreciate - Lindsay
Das Avatar
May 6, 2015 at 4:01 AM
Wow! Dazzled by the sheer beauty of this poem. Just like your limericks n humorous tales this too is brilliant. #7
Laurie Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 8:52 PM
G'day Nandita... my poem only depicts what the scenic beauty is and always has been, but at sunrise it inspired to write it down. Thank you Nandita for your support - Lindsay
Allison Avatar
May 6, 2015 at 3:01 AM
This is simply spectacular Lindsay - I am so used to your humourous writes - the imagery here is so so beautiful:-) Hugs jan xx 7 xx
Laurie Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 8:48 PM
Hello Jan... the visuals in this poem came from a visit west of Broken Hill looking down on Mundi Mundi Plains. Its the real outback. Thank you for your comment Jan - Lindsay
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