I wrote this pair of songs to top and tail my album of songs and poems from Melanesia. A lot of the writing focusses on the challenges the region is facing but I wanted to draw out the beauty of the place too.
Pacific Sunrise
Morning is breaking over the Islands
A new day awaiting the warmth of the sun
Fishing boats bobbing out in the ocean
Bid their farewell to the stars
Myna birds argue
Kauri trees rustle
As I greet the sunrise on these happy isles
Morning is breaking over the coral
Turtles awaiting the flow of the tide
A frigate bird saunters down from the mountains
As parrots pair off in the trees
Coconuts falling
mangoes are ripening
As I greet the sunrise on these happy isles
Morning is breaking over the village
Children awaiting the long walk to school
Dusty roads bringing vans full of people
Waving as they journey by
Dock workers calling
Worshippers singing
As I greet the sunrise on these happy isles
(c) Rich Clarkson 2026
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Pacific Sunset
Evening is falling over the islands
Loudspeakers calling down at the port
Shadows are stretching out from the rooftops
As sandals line up by the doors
Shutters are closing
Crickets are singing
As I watch the sunset on these happy isles
Evening is falling over the coral
Whale song is calling out from the deep
Butterflies flicker with flashes of colour
Under the brightening stars
An aeroplane circles
Ants keep on working
As I watch the sunset on these happy isles
Evening is falling over the village
Chickens are calling out from their pens
Radios crackle with far away football
and children bed down for the night
Banana trees listen
As waves tumble gently
And I watch the sunset on these happy isles
(c) Rich Clarkson 2026
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