Photo: The Hull River, NT, usually a dry river, but a raging torrent if heavy rains come, behind me is Lasseter’s Cave.
The Longest Walk
Days of dehydrated confusion
heat boiling my blood
the camels had bolted
their pegs loosed and broken
and only the Pitjantjatjara people
knew what to do,
they led me along the Hull River
to the Tjunti soak
and put me in a cave
shaded, watered, and fed,
Old Wart watched over me
while the old women brought me food.
But that reef is calling
and I’m so fevered for gold,
barely able to stand
I set off yet again
driven, determined,
maddened,
but little did I know, though,
in my bones I sensed it,
this next short walk
would be my longest.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Note: Lasseter, who alleged that at 17 yrs he’d found a 16 km gold reef in the outback, came to grief on his expedition in 1931 to reestablish its whereabouts. His companions were away and he was alone when his camels spooked and bolted, taking the water and food with them. The local indigenous found him nearly dead, and cared for him, laying him up in a small cave on the Hull river. Weakened, he set off on foot again, walking 55 kms eastwards and collapsed and died. He was 51 yrs old.
WOW! Fabulous poem, and I enjoyed reading the backstory.
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Yes, if you have time and inclination the full story is worth the read. Thank you so much.
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Most welcome.
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Thanks for another lovely poem.Great work.
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Many thanks
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It’s my pleasure Sir.
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Gold fever brought death and poverty for many! Enjoyed the poem, interesting story.
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Thanks Heather, the full story is worth a read, crazy guy, sad end.
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You’re welcome.
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I enjoyed the poem immensely. Though primarily descriptive it gives vein to various metaphorical allusions. The desperation, the walk, the taking care vivid and enticing.
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Yes, very sad story.
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Reblogged this on Micworldwide.
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Many thanks Michael.
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Very interesting poem. I could relate it to a super ambitious person who wastes his life by looking for mirage.
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Take water and friends though 🙂 thank you
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Interesting story, sad outcome.
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Yes, he was a couple of days away from rescue too.
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killed by greed … you have been to that cave wow, a real part of history!
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Yes, if only he’d stayed there two more days, he’d have been rescued
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yes I knew help was very near … karma!
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Yes, I believe he would have died out there, if not that day, another day, he was so lost in that lust, and he jeopardised others lives too.
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Greed is toxic, we should take his example as fair warning!
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Absolutely
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Yes, it’s a fascinating place to visit, and I can’t for the life of me understand why he didn’t wait.
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sounded like he was still delirious …
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Yes, I think that’s likely, but such madness.
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he had no idea help was so close …
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No, but even so he knew the team would raise the alarm.
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but just wouldn’t wait …
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Yeah, gotta die for that gold.
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and guess he still haunts that desert …
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I’m sure he does, still looking.
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locked into his personally created purgatory …
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Yes, an endless drive.
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Interesting story, and another illustration of greed’s demise.
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Yes, tragic story, and he was only a couple of days away from rescue. If you’re bored (lol) on an afternoon, the full story is a worthy read.
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Interesting story…well told, Paul.
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Thanks Punam, the full story is worth a read too.
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You are welcome. Will surely read that too.
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🙂
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