Goyder's Line

They were new settlers
A promised land of milk and honey
He knew it was just damned hard work

Fifty acres of bush land                                                     

Each day he labored hard to clear it                                

While pregnant Sharon milked the goat                         

Noxious weeds thrived there                                            

Trees as iron stubborn as he was                                    

The dog shook his head at the flies                                 

His plough shear struck rock                                            

The creek chose not to flow in summer                          

Finally he now had a son                                                 

They lasted a few years                                                     

But the crops would not grow without rain                     

They walked off the land penniless                                

The land breathed again                                                   

Haphazard bushland reclaimed its own             

‘Til miners and cattle men came                                      

In 1865 George Goyder, Surveyor General of South Australia determined that growing crops in the north of South Australia where the average rainfall was less than 10 inches a year was not viable. The remains of many abandoned farmhouses is still a reminder of that.

Image found at www.flickr.com

Let your song be delicate

I wooed a singer                                          

Just what did she see in me?                   

This tone deaf artist                                    

But she drew me in                                    

She tripped hither and thither             

For me it was love                                      

As she sweetly sang                                  

Her green eyes did search me out           

Such was her deep love

Our romance blossomed

Delicate flower of mine

And so we were wed

What more can I tell

Is that her voice singing now

From heaven’s abode?

Though she has gone far

She comforts this sad old man 

In his long black night

Sing, sing on my love
Let your song be delicate
I dream of you still

Image of chorus of peris (fairies) in 'Iolanthe' found at www.musicals101.com
Yes, my late wife was a chorus girl in Iolanthe many years ago.

Timeless memories

Timeless memories

It was a moonless night

The stars too were shy

Twinkling at me

Like cute schoolgirls

Walking home from school

What were their names

Gone from my memory

Rolling down the hill of life

My heart’s still pulsing

At such a sweet thought

It moves me to tears

Furrows my old brow

My hopes turned to dust

Floating away with the days

As these cruel years

Keep rolling along

I am powerless now

It’s not what we have done

But what we have not

That is the rub in life

Image found at flickrhivemind.net

In this strange city

He did not turn up

Tears drizzled down her face

Her heart was broken

She was left alone

After he had agreed to meet

In this strange city

Ripe for adventure

This was no a birthday treat

But danger itself

She was far from home

Jetsam washed on a strange shore

Line of safety gone

Fear sprouts in her mind

Who was silhouetted there?

Thank heavens, it’s Dad

Image of Rain in the City by Julie Hutchison found at www.southwestart.com

Art was an artist

Art was an artist

Rob broke into many banks

Prudence was just shy

Brian was brainless

Jay walked straight across the street

But Paul was revered

Omar bridged the gap

Oscar often won awards

Jack was real card

Chris went into church

Matthew told the gospel truth                   

Martha sat by Chris

Melody’s song soared

Young Dora was an explorer                                

Walt stole a wallet

John imagined things

Paul wrote some silly love songs

George sang my sweet lord

Some of the above are obvious others merely wordplay or juxtaposition of letters but I would be pleased to see if anyone can guess who Omar was!

Image found at www.guff.com

She would flick her hair

I thought she was perfect but sadly she was engaged to Harry Smithers and there didn’t seem to be anything I could do about it.

I suppose it was the look in her eyes that first attracted me to her for they were like soft dark pools of mystery with a touch of laughter.

Then there were her pretty hands and you will think me strange that by just seeing the way she moved them as she spoke would make her that much more desirable.

However it was the spark of life in her every movement that was the clincher for me, such as the way she would flick her hair when speaking to emphasize a point or stare right into your eyes (well mine really) when in conversation.

Did Harry know what a gem he had, I think not because he confided in me one day that it wasn’t working out for the two of them for some reason, while I shook my head sadly.

I sympathized by saying “I’ll try and keep in touch with her” which was just as well I did as we got married a few months later.

Image found at www.whodesignedit.com

I awoke early

I awoke early

There’s a faint glimmer of light

On the room's window

This day like most days

Slaps me hard around the face

So I am still here

Death is impartial

His absence means I get up

Rather than sleep on

It has been raining

Someone’s been crying for me

Well that’s a comfort

I really love life

Which seems is my fatal flaw 

She will flirt with me

Image found at www.phead.com