A Grande Ol' Girl (ode to a pub)

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mauddib
Member

since 2002-01-12

Posts 119
melbourne australia

0 posted 2002-01-17 05:35 PM

She's a tad old now,
This Pakenham hotel.
Her floorboards constantly groan protest at the burden of her incessant patrons,
As is if she was rudely disturbed
from pleasant slumber.

Because for her,
It is better to dream of by-gone days.
When the cost of living was not even a phrase.
When things were done at a more comfortable pace.
Than to face a world with no time for a "G'day"
or a "How ya goin' mate."

No longer a starter in the fashion stakes.
She proudly stands a testimony to her era,
Wagging an accusing finger at progress.
This grande ol' girl,
Still offers an oasis for those weary of work,
or of travel,
or lonliness.
Or just for those with a simple thirst for her ice cold beer and warm chat,
Perhaps a chance to dip you hat
at that new Scarlet O'Hara.

Her walls are sagging with one hundred years of bar room banter and brawls,
With the memories of two world wars,
And one great depression.
Of a King dethroned by that wicked woman Simpson.

She remembers the Charleston,
And how thoroughly marvelous the wireless was.
Even more was that wonderous,"One small step."
And that awful murder of innocence
that was both Kennedy and King,
How she would sing along with Bing.
She still would if she could,
if only she could.

And those pictures on her lounge room walls
aren't pictures at all.
They are windows,
That take us back to when Davy was no more than knee high.
When the bar was atleast ten feet tall.
When everything was new,
and everyone was old.
When their stories took days to be told.
When city life was too far and too cold
for intelligent folk.

But if one looks hard enough,
and long enough,
Through the watery eyes of her soul.
You can see,
There beneath the first floor windows,
A little slip of a girl,
Twirling in a white frilly frock,
Nestled among the clippity clops,
and drawn against the backdrop of that thoroughly modern railway.
Listen.
Listen!
You can hear her say,
"Davey!
Davey!
Come out and play."

mauddib
Member

since 2002-01-12

Posts 119
melbourne australia

1 posted 2002-01-17 05:41 PM

This is a poem about a pub that I crashed landed in a few years back.
Situated on the outskirts of Melbourne, it is a cheap, rundown refuge for drunks, misfits and out of towners.
Needless to say I fitted right in, for awhile atleast.
The pub is owned by a 90yr old man named Dave.
He sat on his regular seat in the bar every day watching the rif raf come and go.
On the wall in the lounge there are very old pictures, circa 1915-25.
One these pictures depict Dave as a four year old on the back of pre model T ford truck.
I looked at the picture, I looked at Dave on his seat and within 20 feet spaned 90 odd years.
This is motiviation for the poem
thanks

inot2B
Member Elite

since 2000-09-18

Posts 2205
Arkansas

2 posted 2002-01-17 06:08 PM

The poem is very moving. You have taken us back and forth through time. Also I'm glad you filled us in on the owner. I enjoyed this.

mauddib
Member

since 2002-01-12

Posts 119
melbourne australia

3 posted 2002-01-17 07:46 PM

thanks for reading inot2b,I am glad that you enjoyed it.

Joyce Johnson

Member Rara Avis

since 2001-03-10

Posts 9912
Washington State

4 posted 2002-01-20 01:23 PM

This is very interesting writing. Just goes to show the true artist can find poetry in anything. Joyce

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