Australian Ground Thrushes

 On forests paths if you are walking sometimes them you might see

Dark brown mottled grey breasted birds of the Australian thrush family

Australian ground thrushes they are mostly known of by name

And their beautiful flute like song one of their claims to fame

In untidy bowl like nest of bark and rootlets in fork of tree

The female lay greenish freckled eggs of two or three

Mostly shy and quiet birds who find their food on the ground with  ways of their own

Australian ground thrushes are not that well known

I have never seen them in gardens or parks of a town

One reason they remain as strangers to bird renown

If you are walking on a forest track of one you may catch sight

And their rather pleasant song can be a source for delight

They are not well known because they live in wooded places and can be quite shy

But of their true worth as fine songsters none of them should deny.

I Have Been To Many A City And Town

 I have been to many a city and town

And have mixed with all races of black, white and brown

But in a World where billions of people for success does compete

The good and not so good in every race one does meet

Take people as you find them as the wise one does say

This is how it is and will always be this way

No such a thing as a superior race is obviously clear

Those who entertain such thoughts are racist it would appear

It is a truism of humanity indeed

That red is the blood we all shed when we bleed

And death does make equal every race and creed

In a Human World that of any more racists is not in need

Of where my life's journey began i am living far south

And i do know a bit of what living life is about.

In Nature

 In Nature every day such beauty to see

That for to view is absolutely free

The fauna and flora that is Nature's own

Yet of her and her ways so little is known

The beauty that adorns her to Mother Earth she supply

The World's greatest creative duo of them none can deny

The artists to sketch her beauty and the writers to write of her she does inspire

One can say in her there is much to admire

Such joy to so many she happens to bring

And her praises her admirers are always happy to sing

In Nature new beauty to see every day

She is quite amazing of her one can say

And the more i learn about her the more i realize

That of her i know little this not a surprise.

The Praises of Friendship

 The praises of friendship so many does sing

But friendship can be an overrated thing

And some friendships do not come to a good end

She or he the rare one the loyal life time friend

Acquaintances are many but friends they are few

Perhaps this is saying something of you already knew

A good friend is one you do not gain every day

And this is only saying what is true to say

The best friend some did have today an enemy

This is how it is and how it always will be

The one without a friend may not have a foe

That human relationships have their positives and negatives happens to be so

Friendships are based on trust and trust is often betrayed

And memories of broken trust in the mind are not quick for to fade

Friendships that last a life time to say the least rare

Something that many of would be aware.

A Warm February Day In Illowa

 The day it is warm close to thirty degrees

And only the slightest of a coastal breeze

Gently stirring the leaves on the taller trees

And the warm air full of the buzzing of  flies and bees

For Illowa of the Moyne Shire a warm February day

And black cattle chewing their cuds in the shade of the tall trees do lay

The warbling of the magpies who sing all through the year

In the warmth of late Summer so pleasant to hear

Home to emu, koala, echidna, black wallaby and grey kangaroo

And long billed corella and yellow tailed black cockatoo

Tower Hill once home to the indigenous tribe the Peek Wurrong

In the tweny first century to Nature belong

A weather temperature for the day of a high of twenty nine

And white butterflies are flitting in the warm sunshine.

I Leave It To Nature

 Us humans are born as mortals and like all other life forms do die

And as for immortality for the soul ask one more enlightened than i

Only know that to the Earth that does feed us we do belong

Though many would say such an utterance is wrong

As creatures of Nature we will die one day

This is how it is life works in this way

Each day we do live one nearer to our last

And our biological clocks ever keep ticking fast

The grass it does grow on the coward's grave 

As well  as on the grave of the one who died brave

Of  Mother Nature it can be said

That she does not judge the living or the dead

It is us living humans who differentiate 

Who say who is not good and say who is great

But Nature treats all her life forms including us humans as the same

And does not respect money or honour or fame

Like most other people behind my ego i hide

And who is or is not good is not for me to decide

I leave it to Nature the one with the power

From a tiny seed to create a beautiful flower.

Eurasian Coots

 Grey on bill and on forehead, grey legs, red eyes and overall mostly dark

One often see them near or on lake in a park

With short dark tails, well rounded and quite sturdy for their size

They often utter loud screeches and are not hard to recognize

That they are Nature's survivors of them none can deny

Eurasian coots is the name is that they are known by

In water reeds on the lake shallows from sight well hidden away

In large cup shaped nest of water weeds and grass five to seven dark dotted umber eggs the female bird lay

Grazing by water or diving for their water insect prey

People walking by lakes in parks see them every day

At nesting time with aggression their territories they defend

And they do not treat other species of water birds or even their own kind as a friend

They have a huge range Australia wide

And in large flocks are often seen by or on lakes in town parks or lakes and dams in the countryside.

It Is All About Money

 Not such a beautiful World to live in

Where many must lose for a few for to win

Where the gap between the have and the have not keep on growing by the day

For big winners many losers it has always been this way

For one to reach the summit of material success many do slide down

There are far more losers than winners in every town

And it is only the winners the many admire

And just to be like them they do desire

For a few big winners many losers humanity is designed in this way

This is how it is and how it always will stay

And for some to grow very wealthy many must work for poor pay

And the poor they are many in the World of today

He has a beautiful young wife though the hair on his balding head grey

It is all about money as the wise one does say.

One Of The Out Of Work

 One of the out of work people in the town

Down on his luck and financially down

His wife has left him and with her took their three years old son

He feels one of life's unlucky at the age of thirty one

C O V  I  D-19  has brought change to his life

One of the reasons he was forsaken by his wife

She could not live with a man on the dole

Though being unemployed is beyond his control

On such a low income rent he struggle to pay

Yet so many like him in every town today

Seeking a job start and trying to live on welfare

The hard done by life are no longer rare

On such a low income struggling to survive

Only the fear of death keeps him alive

With life at the present he is struggling to cope

And for better times he only lives in hope

One of the financially down and feeling depressed

It can be said of him that he is not one of the blessed

Every day for a job start he does apply

Without any luck though hard he does try

Often hungry with little money to buy food he is doing it tough

On people like him life's journey is rough

One of the many unemployed of the town

Feeling quite depressed and financially down.

Starlings

 Starlings are birds i do see every day

I first got to know them in a Land far away

When i was muich younger a long time ago

Long before time it did become my foe

That they are Nature's survivors of them none can deny

Every year their flocks in numbers multiply

Along with sparrows, greenfinches, blackbirds among others introduced to south eastern Australia in the late nineteenth century

In Victoria large flocks of them every day one does see

Along with the introduced Asian mynas by many bird lovers seen as a pest

Since they take over the sites many small native birds use for their nest

In Western Australia starlings and sparrows are shot on sight

But on the controlling of Nature's creatures should us humans have this right?

On shed rafters , under house eaves or in tree cavity in flimsy cup nest of  feathers and hay

Four to eight blue eggs the female bird lay

They are known for to raise three broods a year

A reason for their increase in numbers that seems obviously clear

Every day large flocks of starlings i see

A common sight to many as well as to me

They live on insects they find on the ground

And in large numbers they do abound.

True Beauty

 An aged wise woman once did say to me

The one of the beautiful mind only beauty does see

And on saying that beautiful people in the World are rare

Is only saying something that many of are aware

Physical beauty is only skin deep as a truism remain

The meaning in this it's own self does explain

But true beauty does only live in the mind

Of those who have empathy and are compassionate and kind

People of true beauty are not that well known

And Worldwide their sort in numbers have not grown

But by them every day the seeds of good Karma are sown

And as people they are in a class of their own

One of true beauty for attention with others never compete

And her or his sort one does not often meet.

Do Not Care When I Die

 Do not care when i die if i will be forgot

If there is no gravestone with my name etched on it to mark my burial spot 

So many good people in unmarked graves do lay

And are the forgotten of the World of today

And so many bad people live in human history

In life to so many they caused misery

They were far from good people and the last living breath from them long gone

But they are remembered and their names living on

The power to do good in them was not within

They did not leave the Human World better to live in 

Like the weeds of the garden that stifle every flower

So many did lose due to their lust for power

Do not care when i die where my last remains lay

And if i am forgotten does it matter anyway?

My Real Self

 My real self from others i manage to hide

But this is how it is with people Worldwide

Even the one with no secrets to hide behave in this way

We are not what we seem to be in truth one can say

The saying if you wish to know more about me come and live with me as a truism remain

The meaning in this it's own self does explain

Perhaps to protect ourselves from the judgments of the judgmental our true selves in public we do not wish to expose 

For our secretive ways this a reason one suppose

Of human behaviour my ignorance i only do show

But there must be some truth in the saying my business is not for you of to know

And though wisdom does not always come with hair of grey

We learn from life something new every day

Our true selves from others we manage to hide

And this is how it is with people Worldwide.

Crimson Rosellas

 They are parrots i see often but not every day

And i never tire of looking at them in truth i can say

Of white bills, blue cheeks and mostly crimson and dark spots on back, blue on wings and blue tail

Once seen to recognize them you never again will fail

Of human beings most of them seem wary and shy

Crimson rosellas the name they are known by

In cavity high on old tree the female bird lay

Five to ten eggs of pale white to grey

They have quite a nice chirping musical song

Once see and once heard you can never again get them wrong

To sketch and write of them the artists and writers they inspire

Of looking at them one never could tire

Such beautiful birds of them one can say

Whenever i see them they bring joy to my day.

There Are People

There are people you wish that you never had met

Since they only brought to you memories of regret

That you ever met them in the first place

And nowadays you ignore each other when you meet face to face

When on your daily walks in the park or on the street

You ignore each other whenever you meet

They have invaded the dark spot in your mind

That is not reserved for the compassionate and kind

There are people that you remember with a smile

And knowing them you feel has been well worth your while

With them you have so much in common to share

Good friendships like this one can say are quite rare

There are people that you only know by sight

But their energy for you it does not seem right

To get to know them better friendships are formed by two

Since you feel they feel the same way about you

The people with many friends are not without foes

Human relationships work in this way one suppose

There are so many people you meet every day

And all of them different in their own way.

The Praises Of Nature

 The praises of Nature feel happy to sing

And learning about her a wonderful thing

She has new lessons for us every day 

And they are in the many in truth one can say

She is one who does have ways of her own

And so much about her remains as unknown

And the more we learn of her the more we realize

That we know little of her this not a surprise

Learning of Nature's creatures such joy to us does bring

There is more to the bird than the song the bird sing

Those who admire her are not of the few

And every day of her we learn something new

We will be learning from Nature until the day we do die

For to believe otherwise would be to believe a lie.

Money Speaks Every Language

 That money speaks every language does seem true to say

It is quite important in the twenty first century World of today 

And with plenty of it for a few years longer you may survive

But on the long term it will not certainly keep you alive

And like all life forms all humans are born to die

But cannot say that immortality for the soul is a truism or a lie

Only know that we all become victims of time

And the years seem to pass quickly beyond our life's physical prime

But it is better to be unhappy and wealthy than being unhappy and in poverty

This is something that most people with would agree

And though the praises of wealthy people many may sing

Money among the wealthy too can be a relative thing

So many people in every town the wealthy do admire

And just to be like them in life their desire

And though that money speaks every language happens to be true

Death in the end becomes everyone's due.

Jock

 He is one who has walked on many a street 

And one as interesting as Jock one does not often meet

He arrived in Australia six decades ago

And time that ages all things has become his foe

From the old Scottish City of Aberdeen

One can say that a lot of life he has seen

He has worked and lived in many towns and cities in this vast Land of the south

And he is one who knows what living life is about

In his working life hard physical work to him was nothing new

He worked in building sites and many a pipe laying crew

He made many friends in his working life

But sadly Mandy the woman he loved who became his wife

In a motor accident died carrying their child fifty years ago

That life has it's heartbreaks happens to be so

Without any relatives growing old on his own

In the town by many he is loved and well known

The hair on his balding head is silver grey

And clearly he has known of a far better day

In his eighty fourth year without any children or spouse

He lives on his own in his two bedroom timber house.

Quite Familiar Australians

 Known as magpie lark or mudlark some call them pee wee

They build cup shaped nest of mud high on fork of branch of tree

Three to five pale brown dotted eggs the female bird does lay

They are birds most Australians hear and see every day

Black and white medium sized birds it is worthy of note

That the male can be distinguished from the female by the dark feathers under his throat

They live on insects that they find on the ground

With their heads ever bobbing as they walk around

Birds distinct from others as distinct can be

Sometimes they raise their wings and call out pee wee

Not that wary of humans in pairs or small family groups they like to stay

Quite familiar Australians of them one can say

They live in country paddocks and gardens and city and town park

These birds known as mudlark, pee wee or magpie lark.

A Few Bad Apples

 A few bad apples rot the bag is not saying what is new

And on saying among politicians there are the bad few

Is not saying anything that in any way is untrue

Some politicians are not good people for to give them their due

It is only saying something that most of are aware

That untrustworthy politicians are no longer rare

Some of them use their power and influence in pursuit of  ill gotten gain

Corruption in high places as a blight on humanity remain

Not all politicians in truth one can say

Are corrupt or corruptible in any way

But some of them do leave a lot to be desired

One reason that by everyone they are not admired

The saying that a few bad apples rot the bag as a truism remain

The meaning in this it's own self does explain.

We Regularly Hear

 We regularly hear through the media of narcissistic individuals latest success

Sadly some people are not very hard to impress

Of hearing about them every day in the news i have grown very tired

And wonder why by so many people they are admired

One of the best of good people who lives in this town

Is one who is even a stranger to local renown

A widow and grandmother in her mid sixties she goes out of her way

For to help those in need of helping every day

It is not for recognition for herself she helps those in need

That every day for a better World to live in she plants the good seed

My admiration of her it only does grow

For she is the one who has the bright inner glow

She carries love in her and shares it around

But sadly her sort in large numbers in the World do not abound.

Old Age Can Be A Punishment

 We do age so quickly and time becomes our foe

And that old age can be a punishment does happen to be so

Jim a widowed great grandfather in his late eighties is showing the wear of time

A regional athletic champion when in his life's prime

The hair that used to be dark brown on his balding head is now white as snow

And his legs that once did run fast nowadays are walking slow

Ella his wife of sixty years three years ago passed away

And in the grave he will join her in a not too distant day

All he has are memories of the distant past

When he was the town's champion eight hundred metres runner and his legs did run fast

Nowadays he uses a walking frame in the park or on the street

Who would believe that in his prime he was a great athlete

In his two bedroom brick unit he lives on his own

The once champion athlete of far better days has known.

On Rabbits

 The last rabbit the last human being will suirvive

On the harshest of conditions their sort seem to thrive

One of their secrets of survival is in numbers they multiply

That they are Nature's survivors none ought to deny

That rabbits will survive Climate Change there is little doubt

Though humans have tried their best to wipe them out

Despites myxomatosis and clavixal virus in places plentiful they remain

And that they are not endangered of extinction it's own self does explain

They are Nature's survivors and have beaten the odds

Though their sort will never be looked on as gods

Poisoning, trapping, ferreting, shooting and snaring  and every rabbit disease known

Despite all of these rabbits do hold their own

And even in places in numbers multiply

That they are Nature's survivors seems hard to deny

We Only Believe

 We only believe what we want to believe

And some people in their words the truth only deceive

Of fair minded people the World is in need of more

This is something that has been said often before

The words of a wise person worthy of recall

That a fair go for some is not a fair go for all

Shame on the racists in every village, city and town

Who choose to differentiate between black, white and brown

It is true about ignorance that is can be bliss

The fact in the matter they do seem to miss

That of all types of people humanity is in need

And red is the blood we all shed when we bleed

Our different opinions define who we are

But some of us take our opinions one might say too far

There are many in their words who like to drag others down

And sadly their sort are not rare in any town

A fair go in life should apply to everyone

Some people in their words to others great harm have done

So blessed are they who are fair of mind

The Human World is in need of more of their kind.

Behind Closed Doors

 One of  the town's most admired men leads a double life

Behind closed doors he beats his children and he beats his wife

And at the weekend at the church with the faithful he pray

As a deceptive hypocrite he is one who leads the way

Yet few in their words ever does put him down

And he remains as one of the admired men of the town

His wife in public often seen in dark glasses to hide the bruising around her eyes

But his rusted on fans dismiss this as rumors and lies

We believe what we want to believe one does have to suppose

And the one who has many friends is not without some foes

One of the wealthiest people in the town today

These are only false rumors of him his fans does say

Yet the rumors in the town of him remain rife

That behind closed doors he beats his children and he beats his wife.

Not For Me To Say

 Did Christ walk on water and die on a timber cross on Calvary?

I cannot say ask one other than me

I only believe in what my eyes did see

But what billions of people believe in could have happened maybe

Billions of people in towns and cities Worldwide

Are proud to proclaim they have god on their side

But many not good living people in every religion and faith

If there is a hell a spot there post death them await

People of different faiths believe that to the right religion they belong

And if they believe they are right then they cannot be wrong

And if  what they have not seen in they do believe

Then they cannot be that very hard to deceive

And though many believe that he is today

That Christ is son of God this is not for me to say.

Due To C O V I D-19

 Out of work happier days he has had

Life has it's good days as well as it's bad

With a wife and two young daughters on his support who depend

The one doing it tough always short of a friend

Due to C O V I D-19 he became unemployed

And in a high unemployment area he needs luck on his side

For to win a new job start where jobs are so rare

Of this unemployed people are all too aware

Every day for a new job start he does apply

Without any luck though his best he does try

And with so many applicants for the one job employers can pick and choose

Where for one for to win many do have to lose

But hope for times better in him does remain

And lady luck she may smile on him again

He may get that job start which he does crave

Fortune as is said does favour the brave.

Of The Ways Of Nature's Creatures

 Of the ways of Nature's creatures my wonder does grow

Yet so little about them i can claim of to know 

Yet i learn something new about them every day

We learn as we live as the wise one does say

Nature's creatures do have ways of their own

And so much about them remains to be known

And even those who know lots about them have come to realize

That they do have their secrets this not a surprise

Many of Nature's species are becoming rare

This is something that most of would be quite aware

Global Warming and Climate Change and destruction of natural habitat by humans for this to blame

The decline in wildlife numbers is to all of our shame

One can only hope that future generations of people will not know of a silent Spring

Even the thought of this is a very sad thing.

A Stranger To Many

 A stranger to many even on his side of the town

On streets every day he does walk up and down

Not a local celebrity but well known elsewhere

As a talented artist in the big World out there

Not a member of any local community or sporting club

And he is never seen at the local pub

With the town tribes enjoying a beer

And feeling a part of the banter and cheer

In the old country town where artists are few

And this is not saying anything that is new

Those most admired good at cricket and football

Framed photos of them on the local pub wall

Where many see art as an upper class thing

The praises of artists few bother to sing.

You Weep For Yourself

 Leave the dead be in their evermore sleep

When you weep for them it is for yourself  you do weep

Their life journey over in peace they now lay

They did have their innings of them one can say

Since death is one of our life's phobias and fears

We weep for ourselves when for the dead we shed tears

Few do go through life without bearing some cross

When we weep for ourselves we weep for our own loss

People are born to life and people die every day

One must suppose that life works on this way

The dead of their worries and cares are now free

And death is for all of us eventually

You weep for yourself when you weep for the dead

Weep for those you love doing it tough in life instead.

Only Hypocrites

 So sad to learn they do not say nice things of you

Since they do not like some of the things that you do

Some of your nude artwork is hanging on the town gallery wall

And this does not seem for to suit them at all

That they feel revolted by portraits of the nude body is obviously clear

Though to the god they worship they do feel quite near

And to their god they often do kneel for to pray

Some can be so hypocritical in their own way

You just carry on in doing your own thing

You do not need people like them your praises to sing

That they are only hypocrites of them true to say

And any heed to their criticisms you ought not to pay

Why worry about it that they do not like you

Just carry on doing the things you like to do.

To Kevin

 Thank you very much Kevin you are so very kind

For your many emails to me and on keeping me in mind

You do encourage so many writers to write

Their words to your so very wonderful All Poetry site

Humanity needs more people like you are today

For you help many writers in your own way

In the twenty first century World where many lay claim to the title of poet

Not everyone can be worthy of literary note

Kevin through different eyes difference we do see

And though with you on most things i can only agree

The title of poet is not for one like me

Since a rhymer at best is the best i can be

We all have our own ways of looking at things one suppose

And a weed to one is another's rose

Kevin your ideas on life are quite different to mine

When i go to the bottleshop i choose the cheap wine

Though you and i may never meet face to face

Thanks again Kevin your heart is in the right place

I must forego your offer of a chance of literary renown

I only feel glad that i was not born a horse since by now i would have been put down.

It Was My Love Of Rhyme

 I have been penning doggerel for quite a long time

And there is truth in anybody can write rhyme

But it is not saying anything that is new

That rhymers are many and poets are few

I have been advised more than once to give rhyming away

But to such advice any heed i never pay

I hope to be rhyming on my last living day

It is each to their own as the wise one does say

As a young man i used to daydream of becoming a poet

A person well worthy of literary note

But daydreams for many do never come true

And what i receive from life is only my due

I have a few friends as well as a few foes

Life works in this way one does have to suppose

I used to love reading rhymes when i was a boy

And writing them nowadays i thoroughly enjoy

It was my love of rhyme made a rhymer of me

It is something i have been doing since nineteen seventy three

My best days in life in the forever gone

But for as long as i can do i will keep rhyming on.

Scomo And Albo

 Scomo and Albo in ways much the same

They verbally squabble for the power of money, influence and fame

Albo the Opposition Leader and Scomo the P M

Each tell you of the other for the Country i am better than him

It is jobs and more jobs they mostly talk about

But of their skills at creating environmentally friendly jobs they do leave much doubt

Scomo and Albo in ways much the same

They are both quite good at playing the political game

It does seem a hard choice to choose between the two

This is how it seems to me whatever about you

At the next Federal Election will Scomo his Prime Ministerial job retain

Or will his loss become Albo's gain

It is a hard choice to make between the two

This is how it seems to me whatever about you.

Whatever About You

 More species of wildlife on the endangered list every day

And this is a sad thing for to have to say

Due to the destruction of natural habitat by humans and Global Warming that to Climate Change gives rise

Those who believe we own the Earth that does feed us believe their own lies

This Earth that does feed us and with other creatures to share those who will tell you 

Of our duties to our Planet far too few of us seem aware

The Earth who does feed us to we belong

And those who will tell you differently have got it wrong

Mother Earth would do nicely without humans is how it seems to be

Since many of us only treat her as we would treat an enemy

Without us our Earth Mother would do nicely indeed

And of many more human friends she is badly in need

What we do to our Earth Mother to our own selves we do

This is how i feel about it whatever about you.

Who Are Your Heroines Or Heroes

 Who are your heroes or heroines of the World of today

Since of the sort of person you are much of you this does say

Is your heroine or hero a multi billionaire

Who for herself or himself only does seem to care

Who to amass their billions the Earth that feeds us choose to abuse

For the damage they create they use the excuse

That they are creating employment by digging huge holes in Mother Earth's  ground

Of the stupidity of the greed in their voices they do love the sound

And you who admire them what does this say of you

When you applaud them for the things to the Earth that they do

Cannot understand that to be like them that you do desire

It says much about us those we choose to admire

The environmental criminals of the future will be many of the billionaires of today

Those who does treat the one who does feed us in such a shabby way

With their greed for money how sad this seems to be

But with my thinking on this few would agree

We do not own the Earth that does feed us since to her we belong

And on much of our behaviour towards her we have it all wrong

For me not to speak out against human greed would only be to my shame

Though what is happening to our Earth Mother i too must take some blame

Wildlife disappearing as well as pollinating and honey making bees

We are helping to create a World for future generations of hunger and disease

Sadly the enemies of the Earth that does feed us all many of us do admire

And of singing their praises never seem to tire.

Bell

 Bell the corriedale wether is eighteen years old

Getting on in years his story ought to be told

The pet of young Susan now in her life's prime

Their friendship go back many Seasons in time

In a half hectare grass covered backyard he lives on his own

And of happier days in life he would have known

Her dad bought Bell from a nearby farmer as a yearling for Susan as a pet

Susan loved her pet wether from the moment they met

Susan is working in the city today

From her old friend Bell four hours by car away

And that the bond of friendship despite her absence remains strong is obviously clear

She visits him four or five times a year

And he bleats when he sees her in sheep language how do you do

Susan it is so very good to see you.

He Is Not The Man

 With lots of gaps in his fading memory

He is not the man that he once used to be

Last May on his birthday he turned eighty three

Among his siblings the only one who left school without a degree

As a drainer and heavy water and sewer pipe layer he earned his pay

A handsome and sturdily built fellow when in his prime going back many a day

The hair on his balding head is silver grey

That time does take care of everyone only true for to say

He was married for a brief while to the great love of his life

But after eight months of marriage his beautiful young wife

Though sadly with a mental illness and heavily pregnant with his child she did decide

That she would end her mental torment in suicide

Not a shadow of the man that he was years ago

Time that ages all life has become his foe

A nice old bloke he is one who is free of guile

The gaps in his mouth shows when he does smile

He does not remember everything in his past

As his gift of memory in him seems to be fading fast

In the home for the aged he will live his last night and day

That time takes care of everyone only true to say.

That Christ Walked On Water

 That Christ walked on water is not for me to say

We only believe what we want to believe anyway

And blessed are those who believe what they did not see

In many ways they are far greater than me

The gift of faith is such a wonderful thing

Hope to the soul of the mind it does bring

For their gift of believing them i do admire

Though for to be like them i feel no desire

To an unseen god i just cannot kneel for to pray

Suppose it is each to their own as the wise one does say

I am not one to follow or not one to lead

And the story of my life would not make for a good read

And though all of this happened two thousand years ago

That Christ walked on water to many happens to be so.

Suppose We Cannot

 Suppose we cannot help ourselves with us it is this way

Our big egos are talking for us every day

Your great job, new home and new car and your wonderful life

And your successful children and your beautiful wife

For attention with the like minded you always compete 

Suppose this is how it is when the big egos meet

In the twenty first century humility it does not pay

Many of the egotistical the so called successful in the Human World of today

Their own praises many do love for to sing

In the twenty first century self promotion seems an in thing

It is a sad Human World for to live in indeed

If to make ourselves relevant of self promotion we are in need

So sad to think in the early twenty first century

That they are looked on as losers those who display humility.

Live In The Now

 As a wise person once said

Do not look too far ahead

Since this may be your last living day

Death on life has the final say

So many young people in cemeteries lay

On how long they lived they did not have a say

In accidents many of them died suiddenly

Into the future they could not see

They had great plans for themselves for future years

And their sudden deaths gave rise to tears

The one known as death for every child, woman and man

Does have it's own end of life plan

Live in the now this is the best you can do

This is my only advice to you.

The Old Brown Kelpie Joe

 The old brown kelpie Joe his muzzle is grey

He is one who has known of a far better day

Farmer Bill has retired him from working his sheep

Every day in his kennel for hours he does sleep

A great working dog when in his life's prime

Though this is going back many Seasons in time

On his twelfth year of life his better days long gone

And the clock on his existence does keep ticking on

Farmer Bill to work his sheep has Joe's daughter and son

And as far as the old dog his working days with done

Stretched in his kennel he dreams of the past

When he could work sheep all day and he could run fast

A great working dog when in his life's prime

Though this is going back many Seasons in time.

The Changes Keep Happening

 The changes keep happening and time ticks on fast

And memory is our only link to the past

At the stroke of midnight the past will be today

And another dawn in time just six hours away

Life's lessons as is said are not of the few

And every day we live we learn something new

For our every mistake always some price to pay

We learn as we live as the wise one does say

But that the now is all that matters as a truism remain

The meaning in this it's own self does explain

For all of us eventually the farewell bell will ring

And who is to say what the future will bring

Only by a good person a good deed can be done

And tomorrow will dawn but not for everyone.

He Is Of The Place

 He is of the place where the Blackwater flow

Home to rook and badger and silver backed crow

In the damp and flat fields where the rushes do grow

On towards the great ocean it winds it's way slow

Many here his accent struggle to understand

As they do with most migrants of a distant Land

Two years in this Country is not a long time

For one who is close to his physical prime

He has fallen in love with a beautiful young woman who has agreed to become his wife

And it looks like he is in this Country for life

From his far northern homeplace of the waterways of the brown trout

He will make a new home for himself in this place of the far south

In this place of echidna, koala, emu, corella and yellow tailed black cockatoo

And black swamp wallaby and grey kangaroo

The nostalgia in him is fading by the day

For the place he was raised in from here far away.

Were I To Return

 Were i to return north today to near Millstreet Town

Where i used to live when my hair was dark brown

Perhaps a few  of  those who remember me there would say

So he has returned from that place far away

But we hear of in money he is in lack

A good reason for us not to welcome him back

And one without money in the World is without a friend

Hope he will not be asking us for a lend

But the old fields i loved would look much the same

I even used to know some of them by name

And Clara the old hill would not have aged in time

In the past it did often inspire me to rhyme

In visualizations i often do walk to where the waterways meet

In the green countryside near the Town of Millstreet

Just before sundown on an evening in May

Good memories die hard as the wise one does say

Without me the Finnow to the Blackwater flow

And in the flat damp fields the rank rushes grow

And as for people everywhere i find them much the same

The most of them daydream of wealth and of fame

If i ever return to near Millstreet Town

Where i used to live when my hair was dark brown

Some who knew of me today there would say

How come he is back from that place far away?

My Literary Advisers

 I have been told by some i have been wasting my time

In years of writing pages of doggerel rhyme

Their unsolicited advice to me is give penning doggerel away

But i do not pay any heed to me what they do say

Since penning of rhyme so much pleasure to me bring

I will just carry on doing my own thing

My literary advisers have money on the brain

And on the penning of rhyme see no financial gain

On pleasure and joy one cannot put a price

And i never do ask them for their literary advice

The millionaire and pauper i treat as the same

And i feel no desire for money and fame

The deceased billionaires in cemeteries lay

And their families are squabbling for their fortunes today.

The Wedding

 The mid May morning air had a touch of late Autumn chill

In the town park when Nancy married Bill

One can say of her she was dressed to impress

She looked rather stunning in her long white wedding dress

And Bill rather handsome in his wedding suit

And the best men and bridesmaids looking handsome and cute

And the guests at the wedding all gathered around

One sad face among them was not to be found

But that the bride was pregnant was as obvious as can be

As the bulge in her wedding dress was plain to see

And when to the celebrants wedding pledge they answered i do

There did not seem that much love between the two

And their marriage vows was not sealed with a long lingering kiss

Just a quick embrace which few in the audience did not seem to miss

That in their interactions with each other love was not on display

They did not seem that happy on their wedding day

At their wedding reception at the nearby hall Nancy only had eyes for one of the best men Tim

By her looks of love she seemed quite fond of him

And bill was giving looks of love at one of  the young bridesmaids brown haired Bess

Looking rather pretty in her nice blue bridesmaid's dress

It turned out that to Nancy's baby boy Tim was proven the dad

And her marriage to Bill for them did end bad

She is happily living with Tim and their young son Joe today

Sometimes love and life does work in this way

And Bill he is living with the young bridemaid Bess

She too has an obvious bulge in her dress

And this time he feels sure he is a dad to be

That life and love have their stories would you not agree?.

Suppose You Often Think

 Suppose you often think of your first hometown

And the old streets you often did walk up and down

Before the yearn for to travel to places elsewhere

On your quest for adventure in the big World out there

The children you played with as a girl or a boy

In memory bring back to you moments of joy

You wonder about them where they might be today

Some of them in the first hometown did stay

And found love and their children to adults did raise

In far away cities and towns they will not end their last days

And others in distant cities and towns will live out their time

Far from where they lived in their physical prime

And some of the children with that you did play

In cemeteries in their last resting spot lay

The life story of everyone it is not told

And some born to life do not live to grow old

Suppose you often think of your first homeplace

Where your's used to be a well known face

And where to many you would be a stranger today

But good memories die hard as the wise one does say.

The Nine Lives Of A Cat

 The cat my car hit on the roadway today

When i looked on my windscreen mirror i saw it rise and run away

The heavy bump it received in the car i could feel

Yet for the falcons and ravens it is one who would not be a meal

That a cat does have nine lives well may be true

To this saying after what i witnessed today some credibility may be due

It raced from the grass by the road straight in front of the car it happened so fast

Memories of this for awhile with me will last

Though i am not a cat fan i do not wish on them ill

And somebody's pet i do not wish to harm or to kill

Some child for her or his pet may not have to grieve

And that a cat has nine lives i now do believe

The moggy may sleep with a headache tonight

But i certainly do hope it will be all right.

I Could Not Help But Overhear

 I could not help but overhear them as they bragged of their successful  lives

Their big homes and their swimming pools, their cars and intelligent children and  pretty wives

One must listen to thunder as the wise one does say

Such a very competitive Human World we do live in today

Just listening to them talking of their successful lives not good for my sense of self esteem

Since i am not seen as successful in today's World it does seem

But this into comparisons and such the thief of joy

This feeling of not being good enough some have since they were a girl ot boy

Those who brag of how successful they are have plenty with to compare

And people far more successful than they are to say the least not rare

Just listening to them bragging gave me heaps to think about

Of this compettition for material success i feel glad to be counted out

Of how marvellous they think they are they sure did leave me know

Yet my doubt on many of our human values only does seem to grow.

John Keogh

 Not into self promotion on any sort of a way

Yet not the sort of a person one does meet every day

One into self effacement his own praises he never sing

In the twenty first century this is a refreshing thing

Married to a beautiful and famous artist Sandi a woman who loves life

He is devoted to her as any man should be to his wife

They live in a place named Laang between Cobden and Warrnambool

One ought not to underrate John Keogh he is nobody's fool

His humor is infectious of him it can be said

He does have a sharp sense of wit of most one step ahead

He carries laughter in him and shares it around

The John Keoghs of the World in numbers do not abound

He has an injured sulphur crested cockatoo Casper and an injured galah Wonky that he got years ago

And that they may outlive him happens to be so

Among Worldwide parrots their species live for to be old

That some cockatoos live for a century i say to me what has been told

The amazing fellow John Keogh to his birds he does talk

And every morning on his shoulder he takes Wonky for a walk

The cat who visits his yard will not be welcomed with a pat

It may well become the moggy who has killed it's last bird, mouse or rat

He is the type of person himself who does underrate 

But to so many people he is such a good mate

With an infectious sort of humor his sort of great to know

One cannot say of John Keogh that he lacks in the inner glow.

It Is The Good Things For Others

 It is not how materially successful you are or how many prizes you win

That will make a better World for to live in

It is the good things for others that you choose to do

That says far more than anything can of the person that is you

Though not one among the admired of the town

You help people who are financially down

That you help many people is not saying what is new

For kindness and compassion your equals are few

Of more of your sort the Human World is in need

Everyday you plant Karma's good seed

To the poor of the town you are such a good friend

And to humanity your sort they are a god send

On what goes around comes around one has to believe

And those who do give can expect to receive.

On Little Ravens

 Within their range little ravens are birds one does see every day

A series of quick sharp caws is all they have to say

By their voice and appearance of their identity they leave none in doubt

When they caw the long black feathers on their necks stick out

Little ravens are black feathered  medium sized species of  crow

They are birds that many people of do know

Than some humans far more intelligent is how they seem to be

Though many with this would surely disagree

I have seen them dipping hard dry bread to soften to eat in a Warrnambool lake

Quite a lot of intelligence for a bird something like this does take

And i have seen them open rubbish bins on what is a remarkable feat

For thrown out fruit, bread and chips and scraps of meat

On large nest of sticks high on branch of tree

The female lay pink dotted green eggs of six, five four or three

So little about them of i can claim to know

Only that they are an intelligent species of crow.

She Was Born Into Life

 She was born into life as food and wool for humanity

The mutton i eat today is from a sheep who died for me

How old she was when she was slaughtered i cannot say

Only know her sort are being slaughtered for us humans to eat every day

Of sheep i profess to know little at all

But the words of  one who knows a lot about them i do recall

That as flock animals they do have leaders just like us human kind

That in the behaviour of other life forms things in common we find

From where i live not that far away

Different breeds of sheep i see every day

Raised for their wool as well as for their meat

Born into life for us humans to eat

It is a fact that in slaughter houses and abbatoirs that they do keep

What is known to many as a Judas Sheep

She leads sheep to their slaughter up the slaughter ramp every day

Unbeknown to her that her own kind she does betray

Sheep they are creatures with ways of their own

And so much about them remains as unknown

The mutton i eat today was from a sheep who died for me

Most of us humans are carnivorous is how it seems to be.

Joe And Bill

 The old bay gelding in the small paddock his muzzle is grey

And clearly he has known of a far better day

His owner not unlike him ageing grey haired Joe

At dressage events often rode on him many Seasons ago

Together they often did take out first place

Which left Joe with a happy smile on his face

But all happy times do come to an end

Six years ago Joe retired his old friend

Joe in his early eighties is well past his physical prime

And like his old gelding friend has become a victim of time

Joe of his old gelding Bill has many stories to share

But such friendships betwen humans and horses have never been rare

Joe calls to see his old horse friend every day

With fresh drinking water, oats and fresh hay

Bill will be twenty two on his next Birthday in May

The old man and old horse are showing their years in grey.

The One Who Does Not

 The one who does not have an enemy is one who does not have a friend

Human life it works in this way some friendships come to an end

In bitterness and disappointment this does happen every day

Life has it's good and it's bad days it has always been this way

The one who does not have a friend does not have an enemy

Of the responsibility of ties that do bind they are lucky to be free

They are known to be loners by the judgmental kind

The people who live free of the ties that bind

Such as friendship that can be quite a fickle thing

Though of it's praises so many feel happy to sing

That often ends badly when trust is betrayed 

It is out of good friendships that worst of enemies can be made

That the one who does not have a friend is known to be a loner happens to be true 

But she or he does not have an enemy for to give them their due.

Of Climbing On The Success Ladder

 Of climbing on the success ladder i am one who has opted out

Of the admiration of others i can surely live without

In this competitive Human World we live in far too much of look at me

In the chatter of  most of the materially successful shallowness is not hard to see

Many look on the Earth that feeds us as something to be abused

For their ignorance of what most matters suppose they can be excused

I am as guilty as most others for the suffering Mother Earth endure

For our ignorance of the one who feeds us suppose there is not a cure

By us humans Mother Earth is made to suffer for the sake of money and success that leads to fame

What we do to the one who does feed us is to our eternal shame

Future generations of people for their poverty will have us to blame

The one who provides us with all of our needs so few do see as a great name

And though i am one not short of ego in truth i can surely say

In the competitions for admirers you will not see me today.

A Kanturk Migrant

 Though for the past he has shed his last tears

Far north of here he lived his boyhood years

Where River Allow flows through Kanturk Town

He lived when his hair was curly and brown

He talks of his first homeplace with a sense of pride

A divorced grandfather in his sixth decade time not on his side

Though Kanturk to him now just a memory

Of what was for him in the what used to be

A fan and a paid up member of the local football club

On Saturday evening he is often in the pub

Enjoying the friendly banter and the barroom cheer

He always has had a strong liking for beer

A migrant of Kanturk a town far away

His hair on his balding head is silver grey

The passing of time on him does show

Far from the town where old Allow does flow.

The History Of Tomorrow

 The history of tomorrow is the news of today

This is how it is and will always be this way

Some claim we are all the leaves of one tree

But many with this thinking do not agree

In the making of a better World to live in we all have our own part to play

This only does seem a true thing to say

Live as a better person you make the Human World better to live in

The power to do good only comes from within

What goes around comes around as a truism remain

The meaning in this it's own self does explain

Those who willingly give can expect to receive

This is something that should not be hard to believe

The top news of today is tomorrow's history

This is how it is and how it always will be.

We Read Of And Hear Of

 We read of and hear of the passing of rhyme

That many dismiss as of another time

But does it matter much what literary experts do say

Since literary trends keep changing by the day

We read of and hear of those who believe in their god in the sky

But their sort of belief to all does not apply

And this surely does not give them any right

To look on every non believer as a lesser light

We read of and hear of those of great wealth and fame

Those who have been bestowed on by life with a great name

But wealth and fame is not a right and to anyone does not belong

And can be easily tainted by those who do to others wrong

We read of and hear of in the media every day

Of the opinionated who do love for to have their say

On the World through their eyes that they does see

Suppose we are what we are is how it seems to be.

That Everyone Is Replaceable

 That everyone is replaceable as a truism remain

As true as that a loss to one becomes another's gain

If you wish to go to where many who thought they were irreplaceable are

Take a short walk to the cemetery where many of the town's dead are

In cemeteries many who thought they were irreplaceable but without them life goes on today

That everyone is replaceable is only true to say

We are born to life as mortals eventually for to die

And she or he who believes they are irreplaceable do believe their own lie

From many who thought they were irreplaceable the gift of life has gone

But the World did not end on the day they died and without them life goes on

They were not as important as they made themselves out to be

Death that visits everyone of ego sets them free

Those who think they are irreplaceable are not of the few

And that time too will prove them wrong is not saying what is new.

If Donald Trump Could Only Laugh

I have never seen Donald Trump laugh as a happy person would

It would make a huge difference to him if only he could

He would look at the World in a different way

They are of the blessed indeed those who laugh every day

His own praises he only know how to sing

Narcissism it is such a soul destroying thing

The anger that is in him he shares it around

And in some of his supporters it is to be found

Just like Donald they just cannot accept defeat

And to their dark caves of anger they now will retreat

They cannot bring harmony those who choose to divide

The voters who honoured Donald with great power his political demise did decide

If Donald Trump could only laugh a couple of times every day

He may have remained President of the U S of A.

As He Lives Now

 Her love of another man has cost him the loss of his wife

But he carries on in his battle of life

His son in his early twenties close to his life's prime

Is one that he does see from time to time

In his late forties in his brown hair some grey

One who is well past his prime physical day

Twenty years ago one of the best footballers in the town

Back then he did enjoy some local renown

It seems the goddess of love on him does not smile

Any love relationship he has only lasts for a short while

Perhaps he is one who is too fond of his beer

And finds his enjoyment in the bar room cheer

For a long term relationship most women look for more than this in a man

And as he lives now he may live out his time span.

Considered By Many

 Considered by many to be not good enough

But not the one found to be wanting when the going got tough

In the football final the club did not bring the cup home with them to the town

But he was not the one who did leave the team down

On the losing side the best player on the day

On a well beaten team he gave a stirring display

He kept on winning the ball when all of his team mates had run out of steam

Yet he was considered by many of the fans up to then as the weakest link on the team

Yet when it mattered most in the final he was the one who stood up

And if all of the others had played like him today they would have the cup

When it mattered most he was the one who did count

Though his best efforts to nothing did amount

Considered by many of the fans to be a weak link but when put to the test

In a well beaten team in the final he was by far the club's best.

Those Who have It In Them

 Those who have it in them great people of to know

And compassion and kindness for others have in them for to show

Those doing it tough they help every day

To perform their good deeds they go out of their way

People who for to be the most admired in their neighbourhood with others never compete

The challenge of becoming better living people is all they wish for to meet

They leave it to others to becoming the most admired in the town

In pursuit of their dreams of wealth and renown

There is more to life than living for the glory of you

The proof of your worth as a person is the good for others that you do

A good living person is one who is generous and kind

And in the helping of others is always willingly inclined

They are always the nicest of people to know

Those who have in them the bright inner glow.

Not One Perfect Person

 Not one perfect person in the Human World of today

And if there ever was such is not for me to say

What i dislike in others in myself i do see

Though many with this perhaps would not agree

In the Human World many good people for to give them their due

And that some are nearer to perfect than others happens to be true

Yet some good people in prison serving years of time

For standing up for human rights and this is not a crime

It is not what you do for self but what for others you do

That truly prove the worth of the person that is you

If you do good for others Karma you will repay

What goes around comes around life works in this way

Yet none of us perfect is how it seems to be

Perfection it is not for humanity.

Maud Kelo

 In the days when her wavy shoulder length hair was chestnut brown

By many young males Maud Kelo was admired as the pride of the town

Yet out of her many choices she wed the wrong man

All things in love and life do not always go to plan

More than three decades later by anti ageing creams her time wrinkles hidden away

And with brown hair dye she cloaks the grey

That the years to the hair never does fail to bring

On looking back time does seem a fleeting thing

A divorced grandmother who knows how it was to live as an abused wife

Ageing on her own without a partner in her life

She has gained weight and is not the beauty that she used to be

But time ages all life she is sixty three

Maud Kelo no longer a rare beauty for to behold

Time it leaves the best of them looking old.

For Your Life

 For your life you may not have much to show for in material or financial gain

But for your lacking in these things to anyone you need not have to explain

And since you do not owe anyone anything and always pay your way

You ought to walk with your head held high every day

To the judgements of others far too much attention you pay

Why even give thought of what of you they do say

Why give respect to the judgements of the judgmental of the town

Who derive great pleasure on verbally putting people down

These people who uphold rank and the social divide

Your worrying of what they say of you a loss to your sense of pride

The people they look up to Mother Earth's beauty trying to destroy

As well as trying to rob Nature lovers of what to them is joy

Why worry what they say of you those who glorify greed

Of any admiration from their sort you should not be in need.