Serena's Song!
For Mackenzie Davis' Official (Unofficial) Exphrastic Challenge!
So beautifulā¦ so vibrantā¦ so lifelike!
āSerena, The Songstressā the statue readā¦
Who was she?
The tale began long ago, in Londonās teeming, grimy, slums.
Serena, a guileless youthā¦ later fondly known as Serena the Songstress, was one of hundreds of starving, street urchinsā¦ sentenced to exile in a horrifying new landā¦ enduringā¦ barely surviving, a harrowing, sixteen weeklong, voyageā¦ crammed in with 198 other convictsā¦ moaning with sea sickness and hunger! All on a trumped-up charge of stealing a horse, when all her tender heart sought was to comfort the poor malnourished creature!
One bleak, frigid morning, long ago in 1822ā¦ the lucky ones who had survived the trip, sailed into Hobart Town, Van Diemenās Land (now Tasmania). Blinking apprehensively as she stepped into the blinding sunlight, Serena believed she was a lucky one! Pallid, she staggered off the ship of nightmares. Her indomitable spirit rose again within herā¦ sighing, she tipped her face to the skyā¦ her heart skipped as hope of a fresh start was born!
Soonā¦ as a convict, recently assigned to a small family of Free Settlers living on 100 acres, she journeyed inlandā¦ to a vibrant new world!
Farewell to the crowded, sweaty, quartersā¦ penned like pathetic, helpless livestockā¦ fearing sheād not awaken tomorrow.
Beside the Derwent River, she travelled in a small wagon pulled by a carthorseā¦ a surprisingly rejuvenating experience! What a beautiful beast! What luscious green rolling hills! Sunlight glinted like diamonds on the nearby water. Crisp country breezes lazily caressed her face.
Thankful to be assigned to live with a decent familyā¦ life as the only convict girl on the farm meant work was incessant, gruellingā¦ cooking, cleaning, gardeningā¦ however, they all slaved through each daylight hourā¦ not just her! Life was tough, but she was free from the squalor of London. During her meagre, free waking moments, Serena dreamt of a brighter futureā¦ of one day being truly free!
Years flew by like flocks of galahsā¦ and Serena discovered a love for all Godās creatures on this wonderful earth. She chattered to the clucking chooksā¦ giggled with the goatsā¦ but the bay-coloured brumby, Sam, was her favourite! The mere sight of his reddish-brown flanks and sooty coloured mane and tail cheered her heartā¦ even after the most trying, tiring day.
Sam seemed to eagerly await herā¦ just as he anticipated his master Jack, the farmerās son.
The cadence of life continuedā¦ like the mobs of kangaroos bounding across the paddocksā¦ better times arrived and the small, struggling farm grew into a flourishing property. The family had become Serenaās familyā¦ London was but a hazy memory.
Then came terrifying clashes between the settlers and aboriginesā¦ warriors silently appeared in clearingsā¦ naked grease smeared skin, decorated with red ochreā¦ hair and beards hung in long black locks! Serena was bewildered about the right and wrong of it allā¦ couldnāt everyone live together in peace as in the animal kingdom?
During one conflict, Jack and Sam were out drafting the cattle. In the melee Jack, thrown from the brumbyās back, landed hard at the edge of the herd. He narrowly escaped being trampled by the spooked beasts. Jackās injuries were severe (especially for those days). Months inched by... Jack remained chained to his bed, unable to stagger to his bedroom door.
Heartbroken that his beloved master had forsaken, abandoned and deserted him, the beautiful, bay brumby, Sam pined. He ignored his oatsā¦ took too few sips of water. Soon, the family grew alarmed. Would he survive Jackās lengthy recuperation? Everything was to no avail! When all seemed lost, Sam began to make an inexplicable recovery.
One night as a thunderstorm was approaching, Jackās father, Ned visited the stables, to check everything was secure. Soft singing met him. Nearing Samās stall, a lullaby wafted on the air.
Sweet, sweet Sam
Dear, sweet Sam
Please come back now
Yes, you know how.
We all love youā¦
We all need youā¦
Itās time to live your life againā¦
Dear, sweet Sam
Sweet, sweet Samā¦
Ned smiled to himself and crept silently out of the barnā¦
Legend claimsā¦
Jack and Sam recoveredā¦ however, the nocturnal lullabies crooned by Serena the Songstress miraculously restored the ailing brumby! Her tale was passed down through the generations... a small statue was erected in a formal garden, gracing the tiny, country township which sprang up in the intervening years.
And so, the spirit of Serenaās Song lingers still to this very dayā¦ inspiring passersby along their way.
*
Written for Mackenzie Davis' Official (Unofficial) Exphrastic Challenge!
About the Creator
Angie the Archivist ššŖ¶
Labradorās personalityšāš¦ŗā¦ attention span of a gnat! š
Top Stories: Race Against Time; Elusive Parkrun; Painting Pandemonium
The Quandry; A Parade Of Shoes; Shadow of You; Her Majesty Mia
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Comments (14)
Such a backstory for this challenge. I can hear the photo singing!
writing is simply brilliant.
This is like a novel, Angie. You managed to get so much of the content of Serena's life into this. A mythical tale! I loved it and all those Australian similes!
Sad and serene, but also beautiful.
The picture and the story is beautiful. I love the descriptions.
You thoroughly captured my attention with this story. I loved how you told a very believable tale of how/why her life was commemorated with a statue. And Serena fits her perfectly. Awesome entry!
Stunning, one word, Angie. This is a beautiful tale and I love how you used your strengths to their advantage and the inclusion of the song too...loved it so much. Felt like a real historic tale.
Whoaaaa, I loved this soooo much! Like so freaking in love! Jack and Sam have my heart!
This is such a cool story. The voice is like an historical account, so matter of fact, yet heartfelt. I adore the song that Serena sings; its simplicity speaks to the level of care she has for her new life; nothing is romanticized or idealized, but it is pure love and respect for the people and animals. The best kind of magic.
Very well done! Great story!
Lovely, wholesome story. Glad they bother recovered but especially Sam š Especially liked the last line!
I couldn't stop reading. Your writing was really well done!
Early Australian historical fiction is a perspective I don't often get to read. Fascinating tale. I can picture her leaning back in that pose when she gets off the boat.
This was such a beautiful story about such a lovely young woman. Enjoyed it greatly