Wednesday, 1 July 2020

Hey Little Girl


G'day and howdydoo.....saw Jelena Dokic just recently doing TV ads for weight reduction, (I will not confess that I do not remember the company behind the AD, old age getting to me I am afraid.  :))  Well, anyway, seeing Jelena once again brought back memories of 1996 when she played at Wimbledon against Martina Hingis in round 1, an amazing game of tennis, which I am sure brought many to shed a tear or two, and if you never saw it, well worth searching for the video and you get to see it. Here follows a short poem for Jelena who gave me the inspiration to put pen to paper, sure hope you enjoy the read. I might add, Jelena is looking a million dollars, she could be on track for another Wimbledon, no doubt whatever she is on is working for her.

Dokic returns against Hingis in 1999 - ABC News (Australian ...             On this day: Martina Hingis crashes out of Wimbledon - Sports Mole




HEY LITTLE GIRL



HEY, LITTLE GIRL…..
ALL DRESSED IN WHITE…..
IT IS YOUR TURN OUT THERE
ON THE CENTRE COURT TONIGHT…..
SO STRIKE THE BALL HARD,
AND STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE…..
SHOW THE WORLD LITTLE GIRL
THAT IT IS NOW YOUR TIME
TO TAKE THAT GIANT STEP
TO THE VERY NEXT STAGE…..
TO HAVE YOUR FACE
ON EVERY FRONT PAGE…..
TO HAVE YOUR NAME UP THERE
IN NEON LIGHT…..
TO HAVE YOUR NAME ETCHED
IN OUR MEMORIES MAYBE FOR LIFE….
YES, LITTLE GIRL…..
LITTLE GIRL DRESSED IN WHITE
DON’T ACCEPT RUNNER-UP
IT IS NOWHERE AS NICE…..
BUT HEY, LITTLE GIRL…..
WHEN YOU ARE NUMBER ONE,
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET US…..
OR, WHERE YOU COME FROM.

LITTLE GIRL…..HEY…..LITTLE GIRL…..



DARRELL B. PARKER
THE BUSH POET OF KALANGADOO
23/6/99


Dedicated to Miss Jelena Dokic who inspired us all in her defeat of world number one Martina Hingis in round 1, Wimbledon 1999.


Monday, 22 June 2020

Memories to Lament



Howdydoo all, hope you are doing well and behaving yourselves amidst the Virus restrictions. Victoria not looking good, lots of new cases appearing throughout the State, obviously those involved in the recent rally will be becoming anxious waiting for any signs of contracting the virus, for their sake I hope they remain clear. 
Tassie not looking too bad, some restrictions being eased and all going well, should not be far away from getting back to normal. Lets hope that when the border is opened that we do not encounter any spike in cases, god willing.
Below is a verse (story) I put together just recently. Many years back I encountered a bloke , a veteran, who told me his version of his experiences of war during the Middle East Campaign, we were downing a beer or two in Caboolture QLD at the time, I had no reason to disbelieve his account so here follows my adaption of his memories....good reading.



Memories to Lament



Way back in nineteen forty... I was a young bloke drovin oe’r the plain
From west of Warialda ...to Tenterfield...and then back home again
When I rode back home one day, my mum she met me at the door
She handed me a letter awash in tears, I’d been called up to war.

To leave my dog and my horse behind... was a difficult stage in my life
Can’t imagine how I would have felt... if I’d had kids... and a wife
The day I left my mum was in tears , I told her not to worry so
My Country has called me up to war... and I just have to go.

I took the rattler down to Sydney town York Street waitin there for me
It was standing room only... lots of eager boys seeking a trip overseas
Billy Dargin, and Benny Hall were there, they hailed from way up Armidale
After signing up we took a truck to Puckapunyal... and joined an army detail

It was but only a matter of time before we’d made the grade and were ready to fight
Mostly a bunch of kids just outa school... not knowing of their plight
Soon back onto the trucks to Sydney town.. and from the Quay we did depart
A Brigade of young’uns aboard the SS Queen Mary, not old enough to be street-smart.

Tobruk was our destination... but at the time... to where we did not know
The voyage across the Indian Ocean kept many a young soldier down below
Around Cape Horn without a skirmish, steadfastly The Mary made her way
Then into the Mediterranean... to Egypt and Libya, where we found our prey

The Western Desert Force was to be reckoned with ...beit with little firepower
For several months they held the fort against the enemy, never once to cower
The Axis threw the might of tanks, battleships and planes, against but a few…
But the Aussie Diggers held them back, not allowing the enemy to breakthrough

When the battle for Tobruk was over and the Axis retreated to their hole
We, left out there on the front... took days to count up the mounting toll
Many Diggers had been lost, others with horrific injuries known as human debris
Some still remain there silent under the desert sand... whilst some are home ...
now laying under a wattle tree.

Billy Dargin never made it back, and Benny Hall never again saw the light of day
But their accomplishments have lived on, and of course remembered every Anzac day
Whilst I made it home to Warialda... my mum she was waiting with my favourite rabbit stew
Yes, now I am back with my horse and my dog... drovin cattle again across the Old Barcoo.


Darrell B Parker
Weaver of Words and Emotions
20/06/2020

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

The Day I Conquered North West Bay


Well folks, here I am back again with another story to tell, this time a really true story, and one that I can attest to...yes, I was there, way back in 2004, playing in The Vets State Championship at North West Bay, down past Hobart. When I arrived there and gazed upon the Course I had doubts that I could traverse it, on the side of a hill it is. Anyway, I put the hilly issue behind me and with the confidence of my mate Les Fisher, who accompanied me down there, (he also played) I was able to overcome the difficulty and come out a winner, my best lifetime performance. To come out in front of Scotsman Duncan Grant was a feather in my cap yes indeed.
Sure hope you enjoy the read.  Dazza.





The Day I Conquered North West Bay


The years have passed by slowly ever since that great day
When Les Fisher accompanied me down south...down to North West Bay
We left in the early hours...long before the sunlight pierced the dark
The highway swathed in fog, long before we reached... Hobart

The City was eerie as we manoeuvred through vacant streets under light
We missed the Casino down on the river as further south we had in sight
Down past Kingston town we plied... most others going the other way
It was not long before we pulled off the highway into... North West Bay.

The parking lot was quiet, but one or two were warming up inside
Fish and I made a high point and o’er the course we cast our eye
I gazed across the fairways there sitting on an angle of forty five...
I was not so sure this was the place for me, how was I to survive?

Many players soon arrived and a quorum was more than plenty
Risty from Launnie was in the field along with lots of Lay, and the Gentry
And of course, the one bloke we most feared was down on the practice green
Yes, Duncan Grant the Scottish icon was favoured to be supreme.

So, after nine holes the Championship was standing as was inferred
The Scotsman was well in front whilst I was nicely placed back there in third
Twas thought that four shots behind was far too difficult to recover
I even think Duncan was satisfied he’d be showing the Cup to his mother

With Duncan in the group behind, I birdied the tenth, my forty footer never missed
Yes, the tenth I remember as the turning point, it gave me the courage to resist
I turned back towards the tenth tee and waved towards Duncan with defiance
Could I continue to master this game of golf, and win the Championship...perchance

The Course was in pretty good condition, and the greens through the back nine began to submit
I had another birdie and a few pars along the way, and at the last I made ready for the final hit
The fairway was uphill, then  left around the lake, down a gradient, and there elevated... awaits the green
Well... Fish told me if I wanted to win, take on the lake, make it the best shot that's ever been

Across the lake, the green it looked half a mile away, I had to wait for a group to decamp
Sizing up my second shot to this par five, do I have what it takes to become the Champ?
The three wood was my club of choice ... and after 45 years of practice I swung away
Now my name is etched into the Joe French Cup ...for this was the day...
I conquered North West Bay.



Darrell B Parker
Weaver of Words and Emotions.
16/6/20



Thursday, 11 June 2020

Ode to Port Arthur...1996


Howdydoo.... hope all is well with everyone and still staying safe.  
Looks like the country will be remaining under Border  restrictions for a while longer yet. Absolute stupidity is all I can say re the protests, the organisers need to be taken to task, fined, locked up, or even exported to China, and , might I add, the State Governments need to stand up and be counted, looks like its one law for some and not for others, seems the lefties have the "right of way" through out this pandemic, have the Health Ministers lost control?  It's incredulously ridiculous that thousands can gather and protest side by side, when the rest of us (Golfers) are restricted to one person per golf cart , when will commonsense begin to prevail? how long do we have to wait? 
Kudos to the Federal Government for how it has handled the pandemic, Australia must be a sparkling  diamond  in the eyes of the rest of the World, lets not allow the few who want to cloud the results with riots, if they wish to protest, protest peacefully!!

Following is a poem I penned way back in 1996, I have tried to describe the events of Port Arthur as I imagined. 

Just recently there has been more public mentions of the massacre being a furphy and not committed by the guilty, but a Government cover up, just who comes up with these ridiculously obnoxious ideas, they must be living in a different world than the Justice System and the rest of us,  maybe been  watching too many movie massacres on the tv, it's about time the "demoniac's" curled up on their lounge and found freedom from their disorder.

I do hope my poem does not offend anyone.... 




Ode to Port Arthur...1996



The day it dawned quite overcast
A shroud of fog lay low,
A day for which the aftermath
From our hearts will never flow,
An aftermath which has left us
All feeling so forlorn,
A day when the ghosts of Port Arthur
Gather at our sides........to mourn.

Into Old Port Arthur Town
Many people made their way,
Who could ever contemplate?
What was in store for them this day?
Arm in arm....hand in hand
They strolled the Convict site,
With visions of those ghastly forms
Roaming the ruins throughout the night.

But the stillness of this autumn day
Was shattered by reverberating sound,
This was followed by savage slaughter
As bodies crumpled to the ground,
Were we in a War zone?
Or watching Thespians at play?
Our questions were soon answered
As the gun smoke cleared away.

Where had this Demon come from?
He, who fired this lethal volley,
What ever had possessed him?
To commit this bloody folly,
A man so crazed that he was blind
To the beauties of this world,
Was he blind to those atrocities?
Which on this day unfurled?

Yes, this day was made for Heroes
As other Heroes had gone before,
Port Arthur had a host of Heroes
Lying....dying....on the floor,
On the Killing Fields of Port Arthur
The old horrors are reborn,
As now, the Ghosts of Old Port Arthur
Gather at our sides to mourn.


Darrell B. Parker
The Bush Poet of Kalangadoo
8/5/96

Saturday, 30 May 2020

Whatever happens to an Old Time Drover




Always wanted to be a drover (Jackaroo) from way back when I was a boy. I even wrote a letter to Dalgety's in SA when I was 15 seeking a possible position on a Cattle Station when I left school, unfortunately I never received a reply, and hence my life took a different direction on leaving school and the opportunity never arose again. Still never stopped admiring the cattlemen out west, infatuated with all the stories that came to hand over the years, an amazing bunch of immortals to me.










 “WHATEVER HAPPENS TO AN OLD TIME DROVER”




Whatever happens to an old time drover?
When his light begins to fade…
Whatever happens to an old time drover?
And the life that he has made…
Will he continue to push?
A mob through the bush,
And run the rogue till it’s standin still,
Will he camp beside the creek?
Where the waters forever sweet…
And watch the moon arise o’er top of the hill,
Will he recall that night on the track
Out beyond the outback
When the rain began to feed the soil,
How he pushed on through the flood
That swamped the mallee scrub,
With just a bob and his keep for the toil,
Will he remember the time?
Way back in thirty nine,
When the Great War took him away overseas,
Where he was given a gun
And told to charge on the run,
And forget his mates…pleading for help on their knees.
Will he roll up his swag and forever be sad
When he reflects where it all begun…
Will he feel full of remorse?
When he unsaddles his horse…
Whistles his dog, and turns his back on the sun.
See you later cobber”
As he shoulders his clobber,
And heads east to the coast to retire…
But will he make the train,
Or will his mind he change
And turn about and rejoin his mates by the fire.
Yes, whatever happens to an old time drover?
When his light begins to fade…
Whatever happens to an old time drover…
And the life… that he has made.



Darrell B Parker
Weaver of words and emotions
2010.








Friday, 29 May 2020

Dr Newton's Law



Well, here I am again with something more from the depths of the archives.... some very light banter. A long way back I had a few problems with Kidney Stones, I visited the Launceston General a few times over the years,  the following is my memory of one particular patient in my Ward.....sure hope twill cause a smile.  😄





DR. NEWTONS LAW



WELL I TOOK ANOTHER TRIP
TO THE HOTEL ON THE HILL,
IN THE BACK OF AN AMBO I DID TRAVEL
I WAS FEELING RATHER ILL,
YES,I'M BACK IN THE A.& E.
DR. CHAN – HE WAS THE MAN
THE MORE I SAID I WAS IN PAIN
THE LESS HE DID UNDERSTAND.

FINALLY UP TO THE WARDS
THIS TIME IT WAS 6D
I MET UP WITH DR. MONIQUE
I DIDN'T MIND HER LOOKING AFTER ME
WITH VIVIENNE, RACHEL, BARBARA AND CO,
I WAS SURELY IN GOOD HANDS.
THEN DR. NEWTON WAS ADMITTED TO THE WARD
HE WAS DETERMINED TO LEND AN UNSKILLED HAND.

NOW HIS KNOWLEDGE FAR OUTWEIGHED THE STAFF
HE WAS FULL OF DOCTOR STUFF
COME EARLY THURSDAY MORNING THOUGH
WE’D ALL HAD A BLOODY NUFF,
THE NOISE HE MADE WHEN FAST ASLEEP
WOULD CAUSE THE WARD TO SHAKE
SIR JAMES GUY WOULD AWAKE IN FEAR
PLEASE DEAR LORD – NOT ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE”.

MR CROSSWELL WAS MADE OF TOUGHER STUFF
BUT HE WAS ON HIS BACK,
DR. NEWTON GAVE HIM SOME ADVICE
AND HIS BOWELS FLOWED LIKE WATER FROM A TAP
SO BY NOW THE BANTER BEING TOSSED AROUND
WAS BECOMING RATHER SERIOUS
BUT BETWEEN DR NEWTON AND US PATIENTS
WE WERE ALL QUITE DELIRIOUS

AND OF COURSE THE TIME HAD TO COME
WHEN WE HAD TO SEPARATE,
SIR JAMES BACK TO THE MANOR HOUSE
AND OF COURSE, ME BACK TO THE LAKE
LANCE HE HEADED OFF TO HOBART
TO MAYBE HAVE ONE LAST KICK
AND AS DR.NEWTON WALKED OUT THE DOOR
HE CONTINUED TO OFFER HIS ADVICE TO THE SICK!!




DARRELL B. PARKER
Weaver of words and emotions
23/11/99

Along The Logging Trail



Hi there good people, thanks for visiting my Blog, and thanks to those who have expressed their opinions of my Posts (poems), always good to receive any critique, good, bad, or otherwise, definitely appreciated.
Here follows another from the archives, penned this 20 years back, did not mean for it to sound Political or controversial, but I will understand should you feel it reads this way....please don't hold it against me. The second last verse is probably more to my way of thinking re logging in this country, I am well aware we need timber for various reasons, but the "Tarkine" should be off limits to the harvesting of any trees, and also, the decimation of our wildlife's natural environment should be taken into consideration before any chainsaws are kicked into action.









ALONG THE LOGGING TRAIL




HAVE YOU EVER WALKED THE FORESTS
WHERE THOSE GIANT GHOST GUMS GROW
WHERE WITH ONE CUT FROM A NOISY SWORD
THOSE TITANS ARE LAID LOW
HAVE YOU HEARD THEIR GROANS OF DESPAIR
AS THEY PLUNGE SEVERED TO THE GROUND
HAVE YOU EVER TOUCHED THEIR SAPPY TEARS
AS THEY ARE TRIMMED OF THEIR SURROUNDS.

HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED THE BUSHMEN
AS THEY ATTEMPT TO FILL THEIR QUOTA
CONSERVATION IS NOT THEIR CAUSE
THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED – NOT ONE IOTA
HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED THE SKIDDERS
AS THEY DRAG THOSE LOGS AWAY
AND LOAD THEM ATOP THE JINKERS
FOR THEIR TRIP TO OLD BELL BAY.

YES, OUT ALONG THE LOGGING TRAIL
THERE IS MUCH GRIEF AND PAIN
EACH TIME A TREE HITS THE GROUND
THAT MEANS A LITTLE LESS RAIN
IT MEANS OUR NATIVE WILDLIFE
HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER HOME
THE EFFECTS OF THE LOSS OF OUR TREES
IS FAR-REACHING…..BUT MOSTLY NEVER KNOWN.

CHIP LOGS THEY ARE BEING CALLED
BUT WE ARE ALL QUITE AWARE
THAT THE FORESTS ARE BEING CLEAR FELLED
AND THE GOVERNMENTS DO NOT CARE
GREED HAS TAKEN OVER
WHERE SANITY IT SHOULD PREVAIL
WHY IS THERE NOT MORE CONTROL
OUT ALONG…..THE LOGGING TRAIL.

MINISTERS GET OFF YOUR BACKSIDES
HAVE A LOOK BEFORE YOU SIGN OUR TREES AWAY
GET OUT AND WALK THE FORESTS
LISTEN TO WHAT THE TREES HAVE TO SAY
BY ALL MEANS TAKE THE WEAK ONES
BUT LEAVE THE STRONG STANDING TALL
NO TREES MEANS…..NO FORESTS
TO BE ENJOYED BY ONE AND ALL.

YES OUT ALONG THE LOGGING TRAIL
THERE SHOULD BE MORE CONTROL
IF THE SYSTEM REMAINS AS IT IS
OUR TREES WILL NEVER GROW OLD
SO I SAY WITH MUCH CONVICTION
TO OUR ELECTED HEADS OF STATE
LEAVE THE FORESTS FOR THE PEOPLE…..
BEFORE…..IT’S TOO FLAMIN LATE.




Darrell B Parker
The Bush Poet of Kalangadoo
29/9/00






Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Desperation


G'day there, sure hope everyone is doing well, seems the present times are to remain with us for a little longer.eh? Cannot understand why all the Premiers are so hesitant with opening the Borders, I think it's about time the handcuffs came off and we were allowed to travel intrastate and help bring the economy back. I am sure the majority of the population understand how to avoid infection by now, just how difficult could it be to remain 6' apart, whether one is in NSW or QLD, or even Tasmania for that matter, a little commonsense is all that is needed.  I would hate to think the Premiers believe we are all nincompoops, no, we are just lay people, not Bureaucrats!! 
Come on Premiers, time to get your act together and "OPEN UP!!

Anyway, enough of my ideological banter...been browsing the archives again and thought this might be a pertinent posting seeing there has been lots of rain throughout the country...hope you enjoy the read. 

 Cheers from Darrell.




DESPERATION



THERE IS A CLOUD HOVERING OVER THIS LAND OF OURS
WHICH WE HOPE WILL BRING US SOME SHOWERS
BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR ALL OUR TOIL
TO GO TO WASTE ON A PARCHED AND HUNGRY SOIL.


IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE THE CREEKS HAVE FLOWED
SINCE THE FLOWERS BLOOMED AND THE CROPS WERE SOWED
EACH NEW DAY BRINGS THE HOPE OF RAIN
BUT THE HEAT AND DUST JUST INCREASE THE PAIN.




THE AGONY AND THE SUFFERING IS HARD TO TAKE
WE STRUGGLE ON, HOPING IT IS NOT TOO LATE
FOR US TO REAP A CROP THIS YEAR
JUST A SIGN OF RAIN WILL EASE OUR FEARS.




IT IS HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND
WHY GOD AND NATURE HAND IN HAND
WOULD TREAT US THEIR SERVANTS IN THIS WAY
AND KEEP US SUFFERING FROM DAY TO DAY.


BUT WE WILL FIGHT THIS DREADED DROUGHT
THAT FOR YEARS HAS TRIED TO FORCE US OUT
AND EACH TIME WE SURVIVE THE PAIN
WE WILL PREPARE TO DO IT…..ALL OVER AGAIN.


HISTORY TELLS US GOD WILL SEND THE RAIN
THE RIVERS WILL FLOW... WITH GRASS O'ER THE PLAIN
THEN THE FIGHT WILL BE OVER FOR THIS LOVE OF OURS
WHEN THE HEAVENS OPEN…..AND WE GET THOSE SHOWERS.




DARRELL B. PARKER
THE BUSH POET OF KALANGADOO
JULY 1986