Came to Australia fifty years ago
Despite having a good job in England
But my wife and I were adventurous
And as sponsored migrants we had it good
Cheap fares for all at ten quid an adult
Kids travelled free on the three week cruise
Across the world just like a holiday
An adventure for my young family
While the children were still young
I found a job quickly, bought a house
Made very welcome given the vote
This country really needed us and more
Produced a little Australian of our own
Became a citizen after a few years
Had new friends from all over the world
The country wanted workers in those days
It had all its own industries
We made our own vehicles and toys
Our white goods and furniture too
Produced most of our own food as well
Made our own clothing and footwear
Ate fruit and vegetables in season
With great variety exported our surplus
It cost little to fill up the gas tank
Best place to live on Earth...sadly
We even trusted our politicians
It all changed, all for the better they said
But it wasn't, fruit didn't taste the same
New country of origin labels lied
Pristine environment was raped
Mining in every state making a waste land
Holes in the ground holes in our hearts
Seas and rivers were polluted and dry
Rare species of fauna were dying out
And now it is getting even hotter
New immigrants don't want to fit in
Politicians represent themselves
Stashing ill gotten money abroad
Multinationals now own everything
Even new shirts my size don't fit
As manufacturers abroad skimp
Yet no-one bears responsibility
This was the lucky country but no more
Well my fellow citizens of the world
Just how are you doing where you are?
Postcard image of 1960's migrant passenger liner sailing from UK to Australia
I knew Susie once
There was something about her
We were friends one time
Fighting for causes
Fierce animal activist
Impolite at best
Hair knotted in bun
Always waving a placard
Livid complexion
She lived with her cats
And a bitser dog named Gruff
Me once in a while
That figures of course
She let her hair down for me
If you get the drift
Note: Bitser = mongrel dog
Image found at www.denverpost.com
The horse tram goes there
over to Granite Island
by rickety bridge
The penguins at home
hidden in their dark burrows
preening on the rocks
Long walk all around
stumbling over the stone paths
climbing over rocks
Scratching our elbows
avoiding a bird's beak's bite
in days now long gone
"There's one" kids would cry
finding one flapping its wings
they used for flippers
But few birds remain
thanks to the hungry fur seals
reclaiming their rights
Struggling to survive
penguins have loosened their grip
on their safe haven
Horse tram still goes there
over to Granite Island
by rickety bridge
Sadly this poem is a true account about Fairy Penguins on Granite Island off Victor Harbor in South Australia and efforts are being made to protect breeding fairy penguins from their predators and human rubbish that abounds around tourist spots and even in the wild. However they are wild animals and looking after them in their own environment is not easy.
Image 1 found at www.escape2.net.au
Image 2 found at www.trevorstravels.com
Image 3 found at www.delwp.vic.gov.au
She had that rare grace
Stunning looks and eyes just for me
I kidded myself
Empty headed boy
I was all those years ago
Endless years of youth
Best I ever did
Was to walk her to her bus
For a few brief months
We'd speak of little
A few threads of conversation
Our shy teenage talk
Yes, I did kiss her
Her eyes shone with such pleasure
Witnessed by no one
Still think of her now
Erotic thoughts of old age
The "what ifs" of life
The root problem is
Does she still think well of me?
To feed my ego
I do claim one thing
That she hummed with such pleasure
Those days that we kissed
And as I write this
Hope that a message of love
Now gets through to her
Image found at www.45.ownskin.com
Leticia was late
For her latte at the cafe
but that was her style
She had the idea
that she stood out in the crowd
she was right of course
For she was stunning
shining like the brightest star
on a moonlit night
I liked her accent
her makeup the way she dressed
the look in her eyes
We were sycophants
slaves to her every wish
such fools that we were
She played us along
wonder what her real name was
no one ever knew
My education
in ways and wiles of women
all came from this girl
Image found at www.flickr.com
Jake had gone out with Patsy since High School and he thought she was the real thing and they would be together forever.
Her family welcomed him every night as he came round and she was sporty and fun to be with and he imagined the future with them always together.
He loved going on long walks together both in the nearby forest and at the local swimming hole and he could imagine no other life than being with her.
So it was a complete surprise that one night after watching the telly at her place that she suggested that they should have a break...play the field a little just to make sure.
Reluctantly he agreed despite being heartbroken but thought that he must comply to show that he was not too clingy.
A few months later his mother showed him in the local paper that Patsy had become engaged to a local bloke that lived quite close to him and Jake felt he could have fallen through the floor.
Image found at www.ccdf.ca
I remember the nineties
My grandparents did too
Many more years before
Yes looking back can be fun
But there's sadness too
Yearning for days of yore
We were spritely as young fawns
Laughing kissing more too
Pleasure forevermore
Now the years go skipping by
Words, numbers mixed up too
Now that I am fourscore
For everything we have gained
So much is lost too...so
Live your life to the core
Image by Maria de Bruyn found at www.mybeautifulworld.com
