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Alison
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since 2008-01-27
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Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

0 posted 2008-12-01 02:26 AM


When it’s daytime in Alaska, Australia has its night
Our Christmas is dark and cold; theirs is filled with hot sunlight
We say they are “Down Under” as if buried deep underground
I wonder if “Up Over” is where they think Alaska’s found

The Arctic and the Outback offer adventure to most all
Their rugged lands meet horizons and mountains appear quite small
Indigenous people subsist there, still tied to their homelands
They hold tight to their unique cultures that most won’t understand

Whether fishing for dugong or seeking whales in stormy seas
Aborigines and Eskimo hunt foods for their family’s needs
They work to preserve their cultures and keep the older ways
Advances make it harder to keep modern changes at bay.  

The North Pole and the South Pole are bookends of the earth
Between them there are cities like Fairbanks and like Perth
Australia and Alaska's lands are open, wild spaces
Which is only one attribute that's shared by both these places

The Southern Cross and North Star above shine in the sky
And point the way to the Poles to those whose eyes look high
Australia and Alaska top the world from end-to-end
They share a frontier spirit and are known for making friends

“Up Over” or “Down Under” doesn’t really matter much at all
They are a world of difference, but the difference is truly small.

-

Alison


© Copyright 2008 Alison - All Rights Reserved
Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
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Realms of Light
1 posted 2008-12-01 03:08 AM


Bravissima!!! Expansive, informative, profound ~ and downright entertaining!!!

Linda xo

AcousticPen
Junior Member
since 2008-12-01
Posts 13
Florida USA
2 posted 2008-12-01 03:24 AM


Hey! I really enjoyed your poem. I never really thought about Australia and Alaska comparitively and a lot of what you said genuinely fascinated me, thanks for that experience. (:

-Scott Vukelic

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
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since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
3 posted 2008-12-01 03:25 AM


now you already know I think this is wonderful!!  so pleased you posted it here in Open for all to read and enjoy my lovely Ali-girl...   

to you RDB

and I know Rick, Lindsay, Hope & Pantheress will be mighty impressed too!!

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

Alison
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Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
4 posted 2008-12-01 10:46 AM


Linda, our Angel,

Thank you, darlin'.  Your words always mean a great deal to me.

Love,
Alison

-

Acoustic Pen,

I am honored that your first post was on my poem.  Welcome to PiP and I am hoping to read lots of your work.  

Alison

-

RDB,

I love you, girly and thanks for listening to all my drafts and ideas.

Love,
Ali

Margherita
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since 2003-02-08
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Eternity
5 posted 2008-12-01 11:46 AM


Dear Alison, I so enjoyed reading this beautifully written and interesting poem of yours. Even in these opposites there is the number one common factor: people, with all their enriching differencies.

My snowgirl, you are a charming Poetess.

Love,
Margherita

Midnitesun
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Gaia
6 posted 2008-12-01 12:11 PM


Alison, you are truly a special gift! I thoroughly enjoyed the "Bookends" concept!
Robert E. Jordan
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since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7 posted 2008-12-01 12:11 PM


Yo dear Alison,

This has good end rhymes and meter.

Love Bobby

latearrival
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since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
8 posted 2008-12-01 12:20 PM


Enjoying you more with each read. Thanks.   "late"
Dark Stranger
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since 2001-03-19
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West Coast
9 posted 2008-12-01 12:28 PM


very cool me ali-san
Rick
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since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903
Victoria, Australia
10 posted 2008-12-01 01:37 PM


Dear Alison, I just loved this title and the content filled me with so many thoughts, a wonderful write my friend, a lot of pages to be read between us all hey, isn't it go to add some words and filled the ends, have a wonderful day and keep writing, enjoyed muchly.

Rick

Honeybunch
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since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
11 posted 2008-12-01 02:15 PM


Wonderful write, Alison.  "Bookends" - yes, indeed, but I would never have thought of that.  It's amazing that in our differences there are so many similarities.  Enjoyed this so much!

Helen

steavenr
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since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058

12 posted 2008-12-01 04:40 PM


cute & clever write, but out of curiosity, does the same concept apply to Upper & Lower Manhattan?
Jaime Fradera
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since 2000-11-25
Posts 843
Where no tyranny is tolerable
13 posted 2008-12-01 07:39 PM


Ali! hey! My, O my O my ...
What a wonderful gift for all our Auzie friends.
With this poem you span the globe, close the hemispheres, connect the poles and wrap it all up together!
I have to tell you a story.
I used to write to Dark Angel whom I don't think I've seen here for awhile.  One day I told her that I had heard that, in Australia, at Christmas time, they teach children that Santa comes in the form of a kangaroo that hops along with toys in her pouch.  She said that she grew up in and spent all her life in Australia, and she never heard of any such thing as a kangaroo that brings toys.  She said they do all the white Christmas thing, and Santa comes from the north pole, even though it is blazing summer.
She said it doesn't make any difference and we all do the same Christmas things together, like the way you wrapped it all together with this funny and inspired poem.
I probably have a few more misconceptions about Australia, like maybe they hang upside down from trees and they do everything backwards since it is the upside town part of the world, so that things fall "up" instead of "down" but I may just write some funny whimsical thing down (or maybe up so they can read it) and post it, or maybe post it backwards, or maybe ... ... ... ... ...
Going Auzie in my mind!
Love
Jaime

Friendship is for Life, if not Forever.

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
14 posted 2008-12-01 07:43 PM


Alison - thanks for writing this, I learned a lot while reading...

BC

Marchmadness
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since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
15 posted 2008-12-03 01:21 PM


Lovely and informative write, Alison.
                               ida

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
16 posted 2008-12-03 04:20 PM


v. well done!
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