Ghosts - The Chinese Miners Poem by Paul Warren

We stopped on the side of the South-east bush track
And decided to make camp for the night settling back
To a night in the Australian bush with the starry delight
So we settled down to the quiet and moonlight night

Early in the morning I heard a shuffling noise nearby
So I got up and and saw a group of people walking by
They were dressed the same in simple Asian clothes
And were quietly chatting together as the line goes
Past us without acknowledging us as they went
There was an eerie glow as they walked as heavenly sent

The last sight I saw was them as they turned the next corner
And I wondered what I had seen then seemingly out of order
The dawn broke and the darkness was dissipated ending night
When a local farmer drove up to check his sheep at first light
And we got to talking about the area of his farm and the track
We spoke of what I had seen at night looking back

The farmer got a kinda distance look on his face
And sighed clearing his throat with his thoughts in place
He said, 'You see, that's just it. You've seen the legend'
'The ghosts of Chinese walking to the goldfields as at their end.

© Paul Warren Poetry