Pure Poetry
'The Last Pit Pony' (extract)
Where cicadas beat the rhythm of the Hunter's heart and soul,
where the lucerne flats are luscious and the gentle winds cajole
with a swaying of the willows by each lilied water hole,
we were foaled.
Where the carol of the magpie is a lilting serenade,
with white bespeckled butterflies a constant cavalcade,
where the canvas is a testament, it's Nature’s accolade,
our home...
'The Tractor Factor' (the town asked me to drive it in their Annual Parade) (extract)
...Things were goin' quite O.K., almost nearly there,
when I hit the wombat crossing and went flyin' through the air!
And the thing became possessed and in a frenzy and a fever,
It bolted like a nervous horse, with me astride some lever!
Well, the Country Women's Float was standin' solid in the road
and despite my yells and warnings, well the damn thing got K.O.'d!
And the ladies of society, from upper echelons,
were wearing strawberry jam and cream and fresh baked buttered scones.
I hit the French Patisserie. It's now a Pancake shop.
The slasher's into overdrive! It’s got a Turbo Prop!
I wiped the local brothel out, six naked ladies ducked.
I went through someone’s poultry shed. The chooks all came out plucked!...
'Why?' (to an absentee father) (extract)
...Was it my behaving badly made you pack your bags so gladly?
Well, if that's the case, I tell you, I have surely paid the fee.
There's an image, ever daunting, thoughts of you forever haunting.
You imagined I'd forget you, but my heart is never free...
...for although you turned your back, Dad, I will love you till I die.
It is time for me to own up. I can face it, now I'm grown up.
But I wish I'd had the courage, long ago, to ask you...why?
'Angels on Horseback' (teaching criminals to ride) (extract)
...Over boulders and tap roots, all fairly low flying,
with Scarface in front and the pace horrifying!
He was riding with eyes shut, not even a blink,
and I swear that the mare that he rode gave a wink
as she bounded and bolted to get to the top
and the swearing he did didn't help make her stop...
From the Mexican saddle, the one big and brawny,
I tell you this much, he was no longer horny.
His voice it was barely an audible 'squeak'
and he looked like he wouldn't sit down for a week...