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Their fires hugged the eastern shore
Close to their ships for good measure
Some in chains, some with promises
All with hopes for a brighter future

Glancing uneasily at unfamiliar stars
And dark strangers beyond the light
They nestle around their crackling fires
Surrounded by strange sounds of night

Daylight comes and their fears are gone
Summer heat soon bakes the vast land
They plant their crops and plead for rain
Wrestling their existence from the sand

No stock abound, just strange creatures
Tough to catch and even tougher to eat
As they struggle to eke out existence
Battling the insects and endless heat

But this rugged place exerts a hold
Its overwhelming skies and harsh light
Create a kaleidoscope of ancient ochre
And a desire to explore a land so bright

To the west lies a continent unexplored
A range of vertical cliffs barring the way
For years they try, following the rivers
Searching for a less harsh place to stay

Three intrepid travellers strike out west
They have a different theory to try out
Following ridges, climbing ever higher
Until the plateau reached, a great lookout

To the west lies a lightly wooded plain
Future uncertain, fresh hope now instilled
With the promise of land suited to pasture
To fill with grazing herds, a new life fulfilled

Learn more about this author, Jimmy Nightingale.
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