The Thorny Hand

There’s a gully in the ranges, in the far-off Northern Blues -

The kind that you imagine one would effortlessly cruise;

To trace it top to bottom should be quite a simple feat,

For the contours don’t look awesome on the topographic sheet;

You’d expect to make good progress and be down in half a day

With time to sniff the orchid blooms that decorate the way:

But I have to disappoint you, the reality’s more bleak

For anyone descending into Thorny Hand Creek.

 

You’d begin enthusiastically, and mutter "It’s a breeze..."

Until, that is, you’re collared by the creeper in the trees

As it sinks its vicious hooks in you, "Oh, bloody hell!" you crow,

It’s the kind of organism when attached will not let go;

Then once The Hand has got you in its unrelenting grip

It loves nothing more than having something fleshy it can rip.

When it dawns on you there’s no escape, believe me you will shriek;

You’ll wish you were a million miles from Thorny Hand Creek.

 

You realise the fact that you must face the claws alone,

And well within an hour you’re reduced to blood and bone;

You struggle on pathetically, your temper on the boil

As bits of you are left behind to fertilise the soil.

The sorrow you will suffer one can only understand

When one is in the clutches of the dreaded Thorny Hand,

For the skin will leave your fingers and blood will smear your cheek

If inadvertently you enter Thorny Hand Creek.

 

You started out a rational and cheerful human being,

But no-one now who saw you would believe what they were seeing- A terror-stricken animal, the prey of barb and thorn,

Till every single part of you is either pierced or torn.

A thousand times you wrestle from the Thorny Hand’s embrace

As sweat inflames the many lacerations on your face;

The rest is far too hideous for anyone to speak,

Just pray you’ll never stumble into Thorny Hand Creek.

He has just published his latest book consisting of  about 30  poems many illustrated with sketches by Lloyd Jones. If you would like to see more of his work click here

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