Colin
It’s Christmas time
Or Father’s Day
Or any day at all
Father’s pain
Palpable
Profound
A hug would heal
A hug would mean the world
Years of hurt,
then silence
Kids’ thoughts and love of Dad
Poisoned
By their Mother’s hate
Communications spurned
Rejected or returned
Probably never reaching them
Mother’s atrocious intervention
They’ll never know the love that’s theirs
Waiting, and wanting to be given
Theirs to claim
They’ll never know the love that’s theirs
The generosity
Laughter and mischievousness
Quiet gentleness
Incredible knowledge, talent and love
Of all things cars
electronics and camping
Been around “The Block” twice
Probably been staying quite close
Unaware
Would so love a letter
A photo of the grandkids
A phone call
A hug
If you don’t know your Dad -
Pick up the phone
Road trips
Seven of us
Squashed into the Peugeot 404
station-wagon
With a roof-rack, and a Dabchick on top
Fold up caravan, two Optimists on top
Harare to Zeekoevlei
2500 plus kilometres each way
I always sat
Cross legged behind Dad driving
Sleeping bags in the footwell
Car packed to the gunnels
Gran adding her 2 cents worth
To every conversation
2 kids, 2 teens, 3 adults
Stopping for petrol
I spied some wool in the window
Oh! Dad! Please can I have some?
(Wool at servos? They all had some!)
Crochet a square. Keep going.
Around, and around. Another ball
please.
Every colour of the rainbow.
The blanket square grew.
Over the Drakensburg
Through carpets of Karoo wild flowers.
Crocheting kept me sane
A calming meditation
Nullifying a sardine can full car.
Big brother’s bullying,
2 little sisters’ bickering.
Years later
In our own home
2 little dogs, my husband and I
That much loved odd blanket
Brought a rainbow to the wicker basket bed.
Dogs curled up, warm
Wrapped in my memories
Around, and around. Another ball
please.
I am waiting … (Acknowledging Bruce Pascoe and his book Dark Emu.)
I am waiting
For the colonists’
offspring
To see.
See what’s already there.
Been there decades,
hundreds and thousands of
years.
Brewarrina.
Birrngi-Bream.
Condah.
Tuupuurn-Galaxis.
Bolac. Smoked eels.
Curly Mitchell Grass.
Nodding Greenhoods.
Yam Daisy-Murnong.
Budj Bim.
World Heritage.
Right here!
Dark Emu.
Read it.
Grasp the future.
Don’t wait.
Act.
Thrive.
Standing still,
looking out.
No clouds to be seen.
Zephyr of a breeze on my cheeks.
Blue, blue sky,
azure ocean.
A sailboarder’s pink canopy
Floating above yonder dunes.
Oval of mown kikuyu.
Border Collies rule today.
Joyful exuberant dogs.
Charging around
chasing balls.
A jogger and a pram pusher,
Weimaraners, Staffies, several Bitzers too.
Buzz of small plane overhead.
A kestrel silently hovering.
Chop–thwump-chop-thwump…
a helicopter too.
Joy in the morning.
Joy in the stillness.
Metamorphosis
World of change or change the world
The only constant is change
Growth of spirit
Bodies maturing
The only constant is change
Volcanoes destroy and build
Bodies maturing
Ideas evolving
Volcanoes destroy and build
Cities expanding
Ideas evolving
Science progressing
Cities expanding
Hybrids and amalgams
Science progressing
Technology leapfrogging
Hybrids and amalgams
Teaching traditional skills
Technology leapfrogging
Holding onto traditional values
Teaching traditional skills
Growth of spirit
Holding onto traditional values
World of Change or change the world.
Julia Vaughan moved to Australia with her husband in 1989, and began writing poetry after attending inspiring Victorian U3A Surf Coast “I just don’t get poetry” classes. Having poems dotted sparsely across the internet, she dreams of becoming an accomplished poet. When not dreaming, she can be found walking on the beach with her husband and two Vizsla dogs.
Published poems:-
Woman in Red – Otoliths (01Nov2021); Words are Flowers - Melbourne Culture Corner (01Nov2021); Finding Calm - Writing In A Woman’s Voice (09Feb2022); Sustain Yourself (15Feb2022) and Mondays (27 Jul2022) - Mad Swirl; Petticoat in Mafeking, 70% Cocoa, Gairezi, Feet - Academy of the Heart and Mind (10Jul2022); Community, Lighthouses, Mulberry Wine (02 - 06 Jun2022), The Future (16Jul22), Lost (17Jul2022) - Ariel Chart
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