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Open Poetry #40
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PEBBLES
Member
since 2006-10-30
Posts 69
South Australia, Australia

0 posted 2007-02-11 09:58 PM



‘The Dalrymple’

Generations before embraced his home in the country
Standing proud , overlooking a quiet country town,
Tall Gums, sweet grasses, green pastures in winter
Ploughed and furrowed, in summer they’re brown.

Cows and sheep, babies in spring,
canola, grapes and various grain,
Farmers cry with a familiar ring,
it’s too dry, where’s the rain?

Meanwhile to pass the time,
a tipple in town would go down just fine.
The ‘Dalrymple’ the farmer to his dog ‘Jess’‘
‘line em up Bill, give us one of your best.’

When will it end, this miserable time
back and forth to the bank, count the cost.
An all too often Farmers whine,
parched paddocks, damage, cold and frost.

Too cold on the tractor today
better do something to keep the cold at bay.
The ‘Dalrymple’ the farmer to his dog ‘Jess’
Slip away, enjoy a hot toddy, no protest.

Generations of hardship and toil
burnt into a permanent frown.
The love of his patch of mottled soil
drives him to work from sun up to sun down.

Sell up and come into town,
the locals plead,
Leave the land scorched brown
and your soul won’t bleed.

The farmer thought about it for a split second.
The ‘Dalrymple’ the farmer to his dog ‘Jess’,
How would he cope when the land beckoned,
time for a pint, contemplation, shed some of this stress.

City folk have an easy life.
Haven’t done a hard days toil.
They don’t know heartache and strife.
They will never understand the love of the soil.

So the farmer perches on his favourite bar stool.
I’ve got all I need, land, stock, the ‘Dalrymple’ pub.
These city folk must take me for a fool.
I’ve got ‘Jess, the missus and the pubs finest grub.

But farmers and local folk make up the town.
Bright starry velvet nights, the smell of eucalyptus trees.
A mix of cars and shops and pastures turned brown.
There is no doubt what the choice would be.

    It’s the land with all its hope and disaster.
    It’s the town with gossip and compassion.
    It’s the Dalrymple with its warmth and laughter.
    Its me dog ‘Jess’ my ever faithful companion.

© Copyright 2007 HelenIL - All Rights Reserved
passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
1 posted 2007-02-11 10:44 PM


sounds like a neat place to visit but wouldn't wanna live there
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