Best Overland Poems
We cannot tame a raging storm, so with patience,
we must wait for the calm. ~ by poet
The balmy afternoon had been fulgent and warm
Until darkness foreshadowed an approaching storm
Wailing winds of the nor'easter would soon cause grief
damaging fragile coral growth upon the reef
Leaden clouds encroached and shrouded the gloomy day
The aura changed from gold to hue of graphite gray
It seemed as if an eclipse turned day into night
as feathered wings rose in unison to take flight
Thunder's billowed breath blew across the ocean's waves
as if the tempest was demanding what it craves
Atmosphere grew heavy with each powerful roar
White caps rushed with clangor against the sandy shore
With vengeance, the storm hurled jagged lightening strikes
Split second flashes that resembled silver spikes
* * *
Then, the deluge rained like arrows, sharp as metal
That would've wounded men like a stinging nettle
The monsoon swept overland, clear across the dunes
on zephyr winds that howled diabolical tunes
The storm seethed with a furor that was unsuppressed
leaving the seaside landscape despoiled and distressed
Battered by ferocious weather that was to blame
Nature's forces can be impossible to tame
Finally, squalls dwindled and waves no longer surged
Glowing rays of sunlight defiantly emerged
And so the storm came with raging temper to vent,
pillaged treasures from the sea. Yes, it came and went
It was quite a balmy evening, fulgent and warm
Upon the beach seashells lie, displaced by the storm
A drought ridden land
And miles and miles yet to go
Into uncertainty
A dream lost in desert sands
All tracks of existance wiped out
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Ein ausgedörrtes Land
Und noch Meile für Meile zu gehen
Hinein ins Ungewisse
Ein Traum verloren im Wüstensand
Ausgeöscht alle Spuren des Seins
--------------------------------------------
Una tierra secada
Y milla por milla para ir
Hacia lo desconocido
Sueño perdido en la arena del desierto
Todas las trazas de ser borradas
Note: Ludwig Leichhardt (1813-1848) was a German explorer, zoologist, botanist and
geologist. In 1842 he came to Australia to study its mostly unknown nature. He wrote a
diary on his first expedition (1844/45), titled "Journal of an Overland Expedition in
Australia 1844-1845. This ebook is available from the Australian Explorers Journals page.
His second expedition in 1848 failed and he started again on a third expedition in 1848 to
find a cross-country route from the cattle station McPherson (Queensland) to Perth
(Western Australia). He and other expedition members were lost in the desert. Two rescue
expeditions in 1858 ans 1869 ended unsuccessful. Only in 2006 a small copper plate was
found by an Aboriginal with Leichhardt's name engraved fixed to remains of a half burnt
rifle which hung in a Baobab tree near the Simpson Desert. The tree was merked with the
letter "L"
In the saloon Tom, Jenna and Tania were talking about Christmas week
They wanted to spread some cheer for the good folks of Soup Creek
Tom thought Milton would make a good Santa and hoped he'd agree
Their meeting was rudely interrupted with sounds of a noisy melee.
They went outside and Ranger David was looking very bemused
In handcuffs was a scruffy individual who was looking very confused
And had mean beady eyes with long hair and a long unkempt beard
He was shouting obscenities waving his arms and acting very weird.
Just then Sherrif Koplin appeared and asked David what was wrong
David replied "I think he's on drugs or he's been in the sun too long
I was over by Calypso Canyon on patrol, when I came across him
He pulled a gun on me but it jammed, and said his name was Jim"
Sheriff Koplin said "he's scaring the kids we'd best get him inside
Then I'll telegraph Doctor Keller to come and get him certified
I'll put him in the jailhouse for his own safety and for ours too
Maybe he needs a spell in an asylum that's probably long overdue.
The overland stage arrived next morning, Doctor Keller had arrived
It had been a long sleepless night for the Sheriff but he'd survived
Because the unruly prisoner had shouted obscenities all night long
And for a man to behave in that way something was seriously wrong.
Dr Keller had brought an assistant along, who looked like an assassin
The doctor spoke briefly with the Sheriff then to the jail they went in
The docs assistant had a straightjacket and rope; tools of the trade
A crowd had gathered to listen to the racket that was being made.
They came out half an hour later with the patient who was now secure
But in the scuffle had badly soiled himself and stunk of fresh manure
Doctor Keller approached the towns people and he had this to say
"This poor wretched man is quite sick and we'll be taking him away"
The overland stage then arrived in town and all three climbed inside
A journey to Sacramento Asylum was about a five and a half hour ride
The driver shouted and cracked his whip and they were soon on their way
"Good riddance to you " said Sheriff Koplin "don't come back any day.
written on 22nd November 2022
City spreads out with a turned cold shoulder
so cold you begin to break apart
so empty, heat cannot keep warm
the silence so loaded.
you go back to the place you remember.
you go back to these things that are like wires or gravity
pulling , tangling , annoying
you go back
seeking the inside.
Notice how the corners get picked at first
somehow I am pressing this through
maybe you are reading this
you would be the only one
surely no one else is left
and then in the same way
it would be the same road, the same day
going to the same place you go to
and what ever it is you are doing
rite now
when you first discover this
shriek! so the neighbors know
it will have no bearing on me now
this is a one way street and I am driving too fast.
there is only the sound of the steam escaping
the muffled mouth limps away laughing
its flat feet one by one
advance
stamping
singing about nothing
we are dropped off at the corner.
at the best part of the hour
inside and underneath, tucked away or
in the dryer
inside the circle of trees, or
underneath the furniture
its silent drifting,leaking
underwater and overland
passing obliquely into
neverland.
Rosemary Thyme fell in love with
a spicy character who was Sweet Basil.
Her parents didn't Extractly like him,
because he Peppered them with Salty
words. So they would meet secretly.
One day however, she Cinnamon Cumin.
Her Poppyseed her, Anise he mad!!
To keep them apart, he put her on
the overland Sage bound for Oregano.
Greek George Allen
1828-1913
Seegh no mee.
Ah, I see we have not been introduced.
Please, if you will, call me George, George Allen.
In life, I was a greek from Smyrna,
Hired by the United States Army,
Long ago when Buchanan was president,
Employed because of my tenacious skill,
Riding atop a grunting dromedary,
Riding and gliding over the great American landscape,
Bringing the supplies for the Butterfield Overland,
Riding day and night most of the time,
From St. Louis to my final home, Los Angeles;
The American Camel Corps we were!
The eight of us: Me, Mico, Long Tom, Short Tom,
And the others, all hard as quartz;
To the virgin western wilderness we went,
Never slowing down our momentous movements,
Or ever looking back in timid fear.
And so, with sweaty craft, and
A satchel full of lucky days,
We completed the route in a year!
And as for the notorious Senor Tiburcio, well,
Do not judge this old skeleton here!
I let him live out back in my stable house;
I minded my own business!
It was either that, or
A single gunshot to my head!
“Eese malaka!”
But I never saw any reward money, I swear,
When the relentless inexorable law
Finally captured and led him to the gallows;
“Pronto.”
This dirt here, senor, belongs to you!
Seegh no mee.
I must leave you now,
And find rest in this calming Mexican dirt,
Here in shady Mt. Olive Cemetery.
Journey's end evades, ever evading
Pleasures trampled upon, beached, down wind
Though hopeful, lone strangers keep rescinding
Flights of wanton fancy bedazzle me
Hard facts in consequences I have binned
Though in searching no-one seems to agree
Overland territories in spatial climes
Amalgamate in their entirety
Fingers filter currency, cents and dimes
Cast off to foreign shores, I would be bound
Oh to be wealthy wise, accrue plenty
Feted, lauded, plaudits crowned
Journey's end evades, ever evading
Overland territories in spatial climes
Shells wash up, on the shore,
Of textures and patterns - galore,
Embedded, in the sands of time,
As waves lap up, of a fresh new bind,
Children build model castles of sand,
Imagination of a king’s march, overland.
As the mild froth of seawater, surrounds the fort,
Creation of a circle of defensive moat,
God forbid, if the attack is fierce,
It breaches the castle, with a high wave - pierce.
As waters wane at the ebb of the tide,
Young hearts search for shells, in their stride,
Occasional jubilant moments of surprise,
As a pearl glitters, from a shell, prised.
The robot of seasons flies fast through the sky
He soars overland with his single bright eye
The ice and the snow both melt in his gaze
Or as the old call it "the earth's son's rays"
After zooming across the sky every day
The engine of the robot starts to delay
Days get shorter and nights grow long
Leaves of the trees aren't where they belong
The robot of seasons starts to cry
For he doesn't seem to make a difference up in the sky
His tears started to freeze and cover the trees
With snow that floats in the breeze of his wheeze
Distracted by sadness the robot did crash
Covering the world with the familiar rehash
A spring from the crash flew up like a flare
And all could see that Spring is in the Air
Spring is in the Air Contest Entry 3/20/19
my shadow self wants freedom
my overland self is opposed
when they agree
will I be dead?
I sometimes wonder
which one would I ask?
Depends on who is in charge at that moment
Middle earth yells "let's not forget me"
So many personalities.....
The picture changes to a serene painting of the sea
Then the evening clouds of late autumn by the ocean
There's a crystal blue lake followed by a lavender
River and mountains and then nighttime stars by a
Highway lit in neon/There is a city viewed from
Miles away and lighted with the colors of dawn
There is a green glow and a pinkish sunset and
Always the ocean and a mountain with a man
Pointing at the sky/The sun rises overland then
Sets leaving a calming new morning
Now there is a purple desert with twinkling stars
And a moon just sinking in a new horizon and
Clouds so thick you can almost taste them
Like cotton candy and there's a dragon
Sleeping on a desert floor with blue sand
And a river in grey pass fertile soil and
The clouds rolling in for the background
And the dawn and the river go on forever
Hindermost thru the bluemoon,
The shadeless empty bluemoon,
(The beloved- hollow bluemoon,)
Rememerbing, a gliding fowl,
The clouds of wings of darkness,
White darkness, the worries,
Tasteless darkness--weeping,
On the farside the kingdom doom,
Overland of unknown,
We hold you in our minds eye,
Utter to me the with your last breathe,
Tender words will be relished, yet lost.
Ruth
Humble, reserved, helpful, caring
Mother of Jacob and Adam
Lover of God, Life, learning
Who feels fulfilled, satisfied, content
Who fears closed minds, closed hearts, and ignorance
Who would like to see peace hope and love in the world at all times
Resident of Overland Park, Kansas
Sorenson
I look up at the stars above
Twinkling in the sky
And wonder who’s behind it all
This mysterious Cosmos bright.
Lower down mountain ranges
Spread accross the land
I wonder who shaped this solid rock
Upon the earth to stand
And still below as the silent earth
Lays in restful recline
I wonder then who separates the day from the night
I see again the oceans deep
And hear its ebb and flow
I see waves…..white stallions racing toward the shore
And wonder who keeps the sea from crossing overland.
And then I look upon myself
A perfect image made
And wonder at the time God took
And the patience to create.
The answer I already know
Stars and mountains high…Land and oceans wide
Were created and adorned
By an artist Divine God, who reigns above us all…forever…and sublime.
The things that await us just Right ‘Round the Bend;
A mighty adventure’s about to begin.
With Grizzly beside us, we’re soon out the door.
The woods, they are calling; there’s much to explore!
An overland trek to the northeastern pole,
Or to climb a great hill, or dig a deep hole!
The lizards await us, and turtles and frogs,
We’ll flip over boulders and look under logs.
Perhaps if we’re lucky, we’ll find us a snake;
We’ll leave him alone if his rattle does shake!
We’ll take off our shoes, and we’ll splash in the creek;
We’ll pack in provisions, enough for a week!
We’ll have a grand picnic, we’ll lay out a spread,
And no one will notice the dirt in the bread.
We’ll launch a high kite in a warm summer breeze,
Or lie on our backs in the shade of the trees.
We'll keep watch for dragons, it's hard, but we'll try,
'Cuz some times you spot 'em in clouds way up high.
We’ll find us some mud we can squish through our toes;
We’ll get downright filthy and mess up our clothes!
There’s so much to do there just Right ‘Round the Bend;
Gadzooks! Where’d the day go? It’s come to an end.
Big Daddy’s in trouble; he’s brought you home late.
Too tired to eat, you’re asleep at the plate!
So off to the showers, with nary a peep,
Pajamas half on, in the bed, fast asleep!
But what’s best of all about Right ‘Round the Bend
Is when we wake up, we can do it again!
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One of my first poems for my grandkids...