Ghosts - The River Poem by Paul Warren

The adventure that we took along the Murray River
Was to raise money for cancer research without a dither
It was the fourth day paddling our canoes down
To Tailem Bend that was a South Australian river town

As we swept around the wide river bend near the cliffs
We saw an inviting camp site as the river by them drifts
There were two men sitting next to the camp fire on the shore
And they stood and waved with a smile for friendship to implore

Being at the end of the day's journey - we stopped for the night
Taking up their offer of hospitality for a camp as you might
The greeting that the two men gave to us was so inviting
Including a feed of Murray Cod fish that were still biting

We had a real Australian Bush camp out with fresh fish on the fire
And later that night as weary travellers we went to our tents to retire
When we woke early as in the tent was entered by the sun's beams
We looked around and the two men were nowhere to be seen

We thought that they had moved on earlier in the morning
When I saw a brass plaque on a rock nearby as the day was dawning
I walked up and read the inscription etched on it so neatly there
"In 1871 Fred and John STONEHOUSE died crossing the river near here."

© Paul Warren Poetry