A Drive Down Hobart Road
- Stephen Whiteside
- Posts: 3784
- Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
- Contact:
A Drive Down Hobart Road
A Drive Down Hobart Road
I live in Melbourne city, and a street near my abode
Is a great historic icon by the name of Sydney Road.
It leads the way to Sydney, which is surely no surprise,
And north and south along its route, the traffic fairly flies.
One day I started thinking, “We have Sydney to the north,
But south is Hobart city, and I’d like to sally forth
In my trusty little motor car, and make the journey there.
Hobart’s not as famous, and I’m not sure that’s quite fair.”
So I turned, of course, to Google, and I searched for Hobart Road,
And even though I took great care in typing, I’d be blowed!
I couldn’t find the thoroughfare, which left me most confused,
And thinking by technology once more I’d been abused.
I still felt quite undaunted in my mission, let me say,
And knew it simply meant I’d have to find another way.
I’d turn to intuition and rely on common sense,
For though I’m weak with mobile phones, I’m not completely dense!
I thought, “I’m sure technology can still serve as my mate.
I’ll simply use my GPS to help me navigate.”
I headed down to Portsea, but I got a sharp jolt when
My vehicle turned sharply south, and left the bitumen.
Soon my wheels were on the sand. I wore a worried frown.
They couldn’t get much grip. Thank God the route was steeply down!
But when we hit the water I became a mite concerned,
And felt the road to Hobart was a route that should be spurned.
I quickly turned my window down, and hurled myself outside,
Abandoning my auto to a wild and rocky ride.
The breakers caught it broadside, and they tumbled it at will,
And I do not mind confessing that it made me feel quite ill.
The last time that I saw it, it was lying on its roof.
There is no road to Hobart, and my auto is the proof.
At least, there’s not from Melbourne, and I’m here to make that clear,
And old Sydney Road looks tempting for my holiday next year!
© Stephen Whiteside 12.03.2018
I live in Melbourne city, and a street near my abode
Is a great historic icon by the name of Sydney Road.
It leads the way to Sydney, which is surely no surprise,
And north and south along its route, the traffic fairly flies.
One day I started thinking, “We have Sydney to the north,
But south is Hobart city, and I’d like to sally forth
In my trusty little motor car, and make the journey there.
Hobart’s not as famous, and I’m not sure that’s quite fair.”
So I turned, of course, to Google, and I searched for Hobart Road,
And even though I took great care in typing, I’d be blowed!
I couldn’t find the thoroughfare, which left me most confused,
And thinking by technology once more I’d been abused.
I still felt quite undaunted in my mission, let me say,
And knew it simply meant I’d have to find another way.
I’d turn to intuition and rely on common sense,
For though I’m weak with mobile phones, I’m not completely dense!
I thought, “I’m sure technology can still serve as my mate.
I’ll simply use my GPS to help me navigate.”
I headed down to Portsea, but I got a sharp jolt when
My vehicle turned sharply south, and left the bitumen.
Soon my wheels were on the sand. I wore a worried frown.
They couldn’t get much grip. Thank God the route was steeply down!
But when we hit the water I became a mite concerned,
And felt the road to Hobart was a route that should be spurned.
I quickly turned my window down, and hurled myself outside,
Abandoning my auto to a wild and rocky ride.
The breakers caught it broadside, and they tumbled it at will,
And I do not mind confessing that it made me feel quite ill.
The last time that I saw it, it was lying on its roof.
There is no road to Hobart, and my auto is the proof.
At least, there’s not from Melbourne, and I’m here to make that clear,
And old Sydney Road looks tempting for my holiday next year!
© Stephen Whiteside 12.03.2018
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
-
- Posts: 1405
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 1:41 pm
- Location: Port Lincoln SA
- Stephen Whiteside
- Posts: 3784
- Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
- Contact:
Re: A Drive Down Hobart Road
A simple mistake that surely anybody could have made, Ross!
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
- Shelley Hansen
- Posts: 2224
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
- Location: Maryborough, Queensland
- Contact:
Re: A Drive Down Hobart Road
Love it, Stephen!
It's a bit like the road to Mandalay in Myanmar - not a road at all, but the Irrawaddy River!
It's a bit like the road to Mandalay in Myanmar - not a road at all, but the Irrawaddy River!
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")
- Stephen Whiteside
- Posts: 3784
- Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
- Contact:
Re: A Drive Down Hobart Road
Thanks, Shelley. Have to check it out...
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
- David Campbell
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 10:27 am
- Location: Melbourne
- Contact:
Re: A Drive Down Hobart Road
Can't understand why you had so much trouble, Stephen...the road to Hobart is pretty "strait"!
Cheers
David
Cheers
David
- Catherine Lee
- Posts: 1309
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 9:47 pm
- Location: Thailand
Re: A Drive Down Hobart Road
Oh dear - this sounds like something that would happen with me in the navigator's seat - not my forte! Enjoyable poem, Stephen!
- Stephen Whiteside
- Posts: 3784
- Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
- Contact:
Re: A Drive Down Hobart Road
True, David, but it's imbassable.
Thanks, Catherine.
Thanks, Catherine.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
-
- Posts: 6946
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 12:08 pm
- Location: Here
Re: A Drive Down Hobart Road
There was a time when cars couldn't drive across the English Channel and cars could only cross Sydney Harbour via the bridge. Who knows ; the Melbourne to Tassie tunnel ? You might have sown the seed for a grand scheme.
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.
- keats
- Posts: 1044
- Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:43 pm
Re: A Drive Down Hobart Road
Hey Neville! We already have thousands of Wind Turbines here in Victoria which are only used to create a strong wind to keep Tasmania from floating any closer to the mainland!! Good to see you back on the Forums mate. We've missed ya. Hope the health is coming along ok for you.
Cheers
Neil
Cheers
Neil