Sunday, December 18, 2011

Australia Mine

 
One morning in Byron I woke from my bed
and what do you think I did see?
a highway stretched out all silver and shining
..and I knew where I wanted to be

So I packed up my car,
and soon hit the tar
...my adventure was just beginning..

Down the North Coast, past the cane fields
I arrived at Coolongolook River
the Mandarin tree was laden with fruit
..but the weather would make you shiver

Old Clancy's still here, and sits in his chair
his drovin' days are  long gone
when he mustered cows on The Overflow
...there's more grey in his hair now, than fair

then into the ' Castle, where the smoke stacks all belch
and the Hunter River flows
the people are friendly, the pubs are real good
and the Black Gold sits in neat rows

Through Sydney's burbs, the sky's getting bigger
the Suzuki is belting along
gum trees at last, and birds in the sky
...now I'm where I belong

Down by Lake George
the wind farms are swishing
as the sun climbs high in the sky
I glance at the needle, now gone past a hundred
..the white lines are whizzing by..

Into the Capital and down the wide Streets
The Big House House sits on its own
stand in a queue and wait for my ticket
...this is the best show in town

In the Great Hall hang ghosts from the past
their portraits are all there,
except for our Kev, and the flame haired girl
...a highly unlikely pair

Mr Whitlam is there, looking so pleased
as well he might have done
and dear old Paul in his Zegna suit
...probably still missing the fun..

John Winston sits last, looking benign
and well and truly real
his work now all done, he looks a bit sad
...he never saw the sign.
Obama was here just a few days ago
and we all soaked up his charm
the footprint he left, was graceful and light
...his smile was like a balm.

Now through the security and into the galleries,
and finally get a seat
the red headed girl's in the House now
...her rise has been quite a feat.

As she drones on, Joe's getting bored
and Tony keeps scratching his head,
' Who's paying for this ?' he just keeps on asking
...but they all want to go home to bed

Then the Man in the Box yells "Order, I say !! "
and  the afternoon drags on and on.
till Albo jumps up and yells in disgust
..." you're all a bunch of morons! "

The member for Sturt is looking real hurt
he's just been asked to withdraw
but the man in the Box refuses to budge
...he's beginning to find him a bore..

Then I call  out, " Just answer, you fools "
apparently not the done thing
two men have appeared,one on each side,
...and quietly show me the door..
So back on the road, and wave goodbye
and soon I find the turn,
where the dog still sits on that same box
.. and its still five miles from town

My children are calling, just what were you thinking?
you can't keep on a 'wandering
just turn around now, and get back up here
...on deaf ears, their calls are falling
Cos' inside the car Dylan is singing
while the cockatoos fly overhead
and the Adelong Hills sit there in the sun
and the snowfields are over the Ridge

Zip down the Hume, what a beautiful road
and across the Murrimbidgee..
now the border is close, I can see the wheat fields
...and the vineyards are racing towards me…

A Gippsland girl born and raised
the wheatfields are foreign to me
but I soon see some cows, and a farmer or two
...who send me a lazy wave

Into the Glen, Home of the Port
with vines for miles and miles
sit in the Grove, and sip on a wine
...the likes I have never have bought

Off to the Cup at Corowa now
across the mighty Murray
the horses start off, the jockeys are set
...who'll win, just nobody knows..

Its getting hot now, I need a beer
so back to the pub at  Rutherglen
the man on TV is calling the Cup
..but my horse is not among them

Then onto Glenrowan, and pose next to Ned
and wonder at his life
like me he did wander, that is,till he hung
...and paid for all his strife

Now I'm in Holbrook, a shrine to the wars
and the Army boys are all here
They all look tall,and give me a smile
..while they open up the doors

At last into Melbourne, its been much too long
where my friend waits at her door
'It's so good to see you, just come on inside'
...this place, is where I was born.
Spring has come to the Dandenong Hills
all the blossoms are out
The old house is still standing,
it's just had a reno,
...it makes me want to shout!

My family are here, and have always been
just like the
Flinders Street
Station
The green trams still run,
the Bay is out there
...and the people, just love to be seen

So the Great Southern Land is still right here
and it's always been our own 
forget about Paris, Greece or Madrid
...right here, sits the Jewel in the Crown
So happy at last, I turn to go home
but my children have just no idea
that I'm already planning, in a New Year just dawning
…just where I'll be wandering, next year..

And I'm happy to know
that it's still the same country
and the language is still 'strine
 sunburnt for sure, flooded sometimes

 ... but still this Australia, Mine !!

robyn ritchie
october 2011














Stop the boats, start the boats
or send them all to Malayasia
just let 'em all in, there's plenty of room
.the wide brown land will embrace them..