Markings 78 - Melaleuca Morning
MELALEUCA MORNING
Come see the light break come watch the sun
Here on this new day Christmas begun
Start from the dark branch crown of a king
Flowers of purple blossom and cling.
Melaleuca morning mantle
Cascades from the heat and light
Bears upon its royal holly
Birth of peace and love and light.
Out of the old wood twisted and hard
Song of December silent unheard
Bursts like a promise onto the stem
Amidst the sharp leaves new life begun.
Melaleuca morning sunrise
From the years of drought and storm
From the hours of heat and darkness
The Lord of love and life is born.
Sun splash in forest from land and scrub
Parkland and city backstreets and drab
Late in the season flame from the earth
Trees that are bearing signs of his birth.
Melaleuca morning matins
Magpies carol from the lawn
All created earth is singing
The child of hope and light is born.
Jeff Guess
PRIZE, PUBLISHING and PERFORMANCE HISTORY:
1986: First Prize in the Australian Council of Churches National Christmas Carol Competition ($1000) - Music by Kerry Warry.
1988: PAINTING THE TOWN: The Gawler Poems by Jeff Guess, The Wakefield Press 1988.
1990: CHRISTMAS CRACKERS Omnibus/Puffin.
1992: THE PENGUIN BOOK OF CHRISTMAS POEMS: Edited by K.Pearson and C.Mooney, Penguin Books.
1994: THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS BOOK: Edited by Kay Fairfax, A & R.
1996: Performed at St. Peters Cathedral - Brighton High School - Carols and Readings
new music by John Nottle.
©Jeff Guess 2017
