Melbourne Story
Melbourne Story
Melbourne Story
This poem is for me.
The Summer of Love
a little like Heaven
since I was conceived
in June '67
Since I rode my red trike
thru the rocks roughly made
in Angus Grove's garden
this three year old brave
Since I kept guinea pigs
in some Beaumaris house
got tangled in string, in
the trees, it was 'grouse'
Then back to the east
and my fast purple bike
our big double story
and the Clarke pool we liked
Went to school Donny Park
show and tell, all that jive
'Let's Sing' Tuesday arvo
straight A's in Grade 5
Played basketball, footy
kiss chasey, not calm
had a thing for this sheila
wrote her name on my arm
Since my sister was killed
and I choked at her burial
a rampant blue morning
my mother hysterical
Since my father he left
my freedom, my pain
all closed and all crippled
it lingers, remains
And then Greythorn High
the French, private studies
Mrs Wagstaff, P.E
the girls and their bodies
Mateship, exams
Central and Duncan
I smoked Winfield Red
Mr Duff and his huntin'
Since I played out my youth
the rage Village Disco
my mates down the park
the cheap Brandivino
My 18th at Dave's
my first Mazda car
onto old Melbourne Uni
and the Shoppingtown bar
Since Michael he died
on that cold July day
my resentment of G-d
holding Jayne by his grave
Since they diagnose me
up and down in bipolar
so I try a new vice
Lithicarb and lite cola
Since when I met Jackie
in Emerald at home
then Briar Hill rising
to an Eltham-ish zone
Saw a snippet of future
it could only be Him
you sitting beside me
as the truth welled within
Our dusty cat Giz
and shaggy dog Buster
my betrayal, my cheating
lovemaking and laughter
Since I went off to Israel
saw Eiffel's tall Tower
saw London and Prague
Mum's home Bratislava
Since when I got back
since she said to me, "No"
the rejection, the loss
20 years it went slow
Just collating the time
the growing and thinking
my waiting for miracles
inner hope never sinking
Since Dad died to cancer
the damned cigarettes
his last poignant book
as a ruthless sun sets
Since Jez died to cancer
the scars down his back
his paralysed foot
his so beautiful tact
Since I spend time with Mum
preparatory years
the fumbling, the laughing
the overdue tears
Since I saw Leonard Cohen
at Rod Laver Arena
he returns to unleash me
just until I have seen her
This poem is for me.
The Summer of Love
a little like Heaven
since I was conceived
in June '67
Since I rode my red trike
thru the rocks roughly made
in Angus Grove's garden
this three year old brave
Since I kept guinea pigs
in some Beaumaris house
got tangled in string, in
the trees, it was 'grouse'
Then back to the east
and my fast purple bike
our big double story
and the Clarke pool we liked
Went to school Donny Park
show and tell, all that jive
'Let's Sing' Tuesday arvo
straight A's in Grade 5
Played basketball, footy
kiss chasey, not calm
had a thing for this sheila
wrote her name on my arm
Since my sister was killed
and I choked at her burial
a rampant blue morning
my mother hysterical
Since my father he left
my freedom, my pain
all closed and all crippled
it lingers, remains
And then Greythorn High
the French, private studies
Mrs Wagstaff, P.E
the girls and their bodies
Mateship, exams
Central and Duncan
I smoked Winfield Red
Mr Duff and his huntin'
Since I played out my youth
the rage Village Disco
my mates down the park
the cheap Brandivino
My 18th at Dave's
my first Mazda car
onto old Melbourne Uni
and the Shoppingtown bar
Since Michael he died
on that cold July day
my resentment of G-d
holding Jayne by his grave
Since they diagnose me
up and down in bipolar
so I try a new vice
Lithicarb and lite cola
Since when I met Jackie
in Emerald at home
then Briar Hill rising
to an Eltham-ish zone
Saw a snippet of future
it could only be Him
you sitting beside me
as the truth welled within
Our dusty cat Giz
and shaggy dog Buster
my betrayal, my cheating
lovemaking and laughter
Since I went off to Israel
saw Eiffel's tall Tower
saw London and Prague
Mum's home Bratislava
Since when I got back
since she said to me, "No"
the rejection, the loss
20 years it went slow
Just collating the time
the growing and thinking
my waiting for miracles
inner hope never sinking
Since Dad died to cancer
the damned cigarettes
his last poignant book
as a ruthless sun sets
Since Jez died to cancer
the scars down his back
his paralysed foot
his so beautiful tact
Since I spend time with Mum
preparatory years
the fumbling, the laughing
the overdue tears
Since I saw Leonard Cohen
at Rod Laver Arena
he returns to unleash me
just until I have seen her
Last edited by Boss on Wed Nov 05, 2014 3:59 am, edited 25 times in total.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
Re: Melbourne Story
So very concise and picturesque in your images, graphic. Love your rhyming and your phrasing, and
"had a thing for this sheila" ~ something offhanded in the memory collapses it to how you really would
refer to a girl you had "liked" at one time. Overall, Adam, very poignant, moving, and delightful.
So glad you were able to see Leonard and that he brought you some relief. Still hoping for Jackie.
Well done... I love it. Thanks for the imagery and poetic description of your life.
~ Lizzy
"had a thing for this sheila" ~ something offhanded in the memory collapses it to how you really would
refer to a girl you had "liked" at one time. Overall, Adam, very poignant, moving, and delightful.
So glad you were able to see Leonard and that he brought you some relief. Still hoping for Jackie.
Well done... I love it. Thanks for the imagery and poetic description of your life.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
Re: Melbourne Story
Ĺive
Last edited by Boss on Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
Re: Melbourne Story
Oh, really... I had no idea on the term Sheila.
Life... that's far better
Thanks... it's half over; and hope you do, too
~ Lizzy xxx
Life... that's far better
Thanks... it's half over; and hope you do, too
~ Lizzy xxx
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
Re: Melbourne Story
Ĺuve
Last edited by Boss on Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
Re: Melbourne Story
Did this ever get sent to Ben, Adam?
Was it helpful or healing to the situation?
I hope so.
Was it helpful or healing to the situation?
I hope so.
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
Re: Melbourne Story
Ĺove
Last edited by Boss on Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
Re: Melbourne Story
That's good to hear, Adam.
Ha. So right about water and electricity.
That's a very mysterious message, Adam.
I'll personally tell whoever the "them" are whatever you want.
Please be well and stay well.
Cryptic messages like this always concern me. Always have, always will.
Unless, your change in direction in that paragraph included your written piece in prose form, as well.
All the best to you, friend.
Ha. So right about water and electricity.
That's a very mysterious message, Adam.
I'll personally tell whoever the "them" are whatever you want.
Please be well and stay well.
Cryptic messages like this always concern me. Always have, always will.
Unless, your change in direction in that paragraph included your written piece in prose form, as well.
All the best to you, friend.
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
Re: Melbourne Story
the best kind of poemThis poem is for me.
Adam, I feel like you've opened and shared with me a tin can filled with Polaroids (that's how my grandmother kept her photo's in an old cookie tin - each photo had a little label on the back). I loved these flashes, little pieces of a larger story filled with ups and downs.
I think that somebody was just trying to patent DNA sequences.Who owns h2o, who owns electrons? A government, a shareholder? Wonder what G-d thinks about it.
Re: Melbourne Story
A perfect analogy, Cate! [Wish I'd thought of it ]Adam, I feel like you've opened and shared with me a tin can filled with Polaroids (that's how my grandmother kept her photo's in an old cookie tin - each photo had a little label on the back). I loved these flashes, little pieces of a larger story filled with ups and downs.
OMG... I hadn't heard that about DNA sequences... now, they've really gone over the edge!
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
Re: Melbourne Story
Live
Last edited by Boss on Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
Re: Melbourne Story
Thanks, Adam. Your lovely sentiment reminds me of a modern-day Rumi .
Me, too .
~ Lizzy
Me, too .
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
Re: Melbourne Story
Late August
25 years ago
he is nothing
then wins
a promise -
she is with him.
Come November
he sees you
thru Brisbane
by Melbourne -
she isn't with him.
He doesn't need
much, Leonard.
He takes a deep
breath, he prays -
she is with him,
always.
25 years ago
he is nothing
then wins
a promise -
she is with him.
Come November
he sees you
thru Brisbane
by Melbourne -
she isn't with him.
He doesn't need
much, Leonard.
He takes a deep
breath, he prays -
she is with him,
always.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
Re: Melbourne Story
Love
Last edited by Boss on Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
Re: Melbourne Story
If you are different, if you expect a miracle,
if you profess love; many will laugh at you.
They are just scared.
if you profess love; many will laugh at you.
They are just scared.