ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

A Few Lines Written in Defence of the Somewhat Unfashionable Discipline of History

© Stephen Whiteside 01.01.2012

The New Year is here. We've thrown out the Old.
It soon will be rotting, and covered with mould
With all of those others in heaps at the tip,
Forgotten forever once loosed from our grip.

But when no-one's looking I like to sneak out
To these mountains of years and fossick out.
I feel like a prospector looking for gold.
I come to a pile and lift up a fold.

There's treasure abundant all scattered around,
Up near the apex, or down on the ground.
I polish these gem-stones. They come up like new,
Then back in the present I place them on view.

Alas, there's too many. I can't reach them all.
There's so much to thrill and excite and enthrall.
Perhaps you can join me (there's no need for fears)
Exploring the infinite discarded years.

You can look in Australia, or search overseas;
You can rake the last decade, or pre-histories;
Prominent persons or places or wars;
Political theories or old household chores;

The broad sweep of hist'ry or detail minute;
The ugly, the pretty, the hostile, the cute;
The winners, the losers, the bad and the good;
Technology's compass, from i-phones to wood.

It's magic, I tell you, to find a good tale
In an era you've heard is outmoded and stale;
Embrace the New Year, yes, but don't lose the Old
For deep in its heart there are mountains of gold!

Couldn't agree more Stephen - there are lots of diamonds out there unfaceted just waiting for a bit of cut, polish and shine. One should never be lacking in inspiration.

Enjoyed the poem and the thought it contained. Like to think that our poetry will also be considered the time capsules of the past someday.

Cheers

Maureen

Thanks, Maureen. The only problem I have with this poem is that it drifts into the 'preachy', which I usually try to avoid. It's just that it's something I feel so strongly about, I couldn't!

Why shouldn't you be preachy Stephen. I am

I thought it was a good poem. Some skilful use of metaphor. I'm also interested in history, I know what you mean about the gems. I think it is not just a matter of curiosity, where we have been, explains where we are.

Well, yes, that's the idea. Preachy? Well, it's tempting, but as a general rule I think it's counterproductive. I do allow myself the occasional lapse, though.