The Homesteader's Tale (Poetry)

We journeyed all these miles to find a life
forsaking every landmark that we knew
to start afresh — build homes, raise crops and kids
believing honest toil would see us through

We were as fleas on some cur’s bony back
the land was thin — we struggled to hold on
we persevered despite how hunger gnawed
and any stroke of luck did not last long

Each turned his hand to anything he could
even the young ones learned to pull their weight
we built plain houses — allocated plots
our livelihoods mapped out in poor estate

We worked that soil — we gave it all we had
blood and sweat and prayer without regard
for what it took from us in youth and faith
it sapped us dry for every day was hard

Endurance then the measure of each man
the months of drought reduced us to a crew
of scavengers who slowly lost the will
to keep on keeping on and see it through

Then floods along with sickness took its toll
and we buried seven children and three wives
there was no need to count the show of hands
most had a mind that nothing here survives

So time to pack — abandon any dream
of taming this wild landscape — break its will
its nature way too harsh for all it’s free
unwelcoming to some it stretches still

A sad day when the first of them moved out
defeat hung bitter — whispered, half-ashamed
they’d given up, but grouped beside the church
ten crosses argued no one could be blamed

Around mid-Fall another party left
the winds already chill and turning strong
our meagre crops heaped small inside the barn
and knowing well how hardship drags along ...

Yet we few stubborn spirits dug our heels
some judged us foolish, crazy, called us dumb
we rationed our provisions — made a pact
we’d stick it out and wait for Spring to come

The snows formed killer-drifts against the door
we slept together huddled for the heat
told stories, whittled wood to keep our thoughts
from brooding over what and when we’d eat

It was a trial. Nobody would deny
the worry and the tension week on week
we watched the weather — waiting for a break
some sign suggesting we could maybe eke

supplies out long enough — still touch and go
and there were times the spectre of despair
stalked among us — jeering — undermined
the strongest will as doubt devalued prayer

A miracle arrived in spite of all
the elements could throw. A clear blue sky
and pallid sun that had us shout for joy
true thankfulness the worst has passed us by

We ran out in the fields and grubbed for roots
the thaw gave up its grip with little fight
although the stew was thin through lack of meat
we savoured it — our sullen mood grown light

With Spring’s first flowers cautious hope restored
our energies — we planted dawn ’til dark
while high up in the firmament a speck
shared with us the sweet song of the lark

The months then followed kinder than before
we settled down into a strict routine
perhaps at last the land accepted us
as homesteaders — pursuers of a dream

We were a ragged band — dirt-poor but proud
tenacious as a tick that won’t let go
we claimed this spot for our community
and now each has his own success to show

That is our story— how this came to be
the town we named DEFIANCE in the face
of deprivation harder to recall
since better times have smiled upon the place

All history now. But come each summer’s end
we honour those who perished — show respect
spread bright bouquets of flowers on ten graves
and tell this tale again, lest we forget