ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I caught the perfect light today, and found a subject too
Sitting in the sunlight and soaking up the view
lap dog perched upon his lap, cool breeze blowing through
wanting nothing more from life but ‘cope’.
These are the sort of images I’m trying to pursue
So I keep my camera ready now – in Hope.

This picture joins a handful more of moments in the frame
That occurred along this street with its optimistic name
Nothing great or grandiose, but important just the same
For both great and small are still subject to scope
So if the shutter falls, it is not to bless or blame
It is just a way to show a life in Hope

Hope Street runs from East to West for round about a mile
The houses, ‘same but different’, in eclectic country style
Wide as the local river, as straight as any aisle,
And, but for one exception, without slope.
We bought a little house this year and plan to stay a while
So it is safe to say – we live in Hope.

The Saturday morning soccer fields hope for a Socceroo
The vacant blocks wait for a building project to ensue
Meanwhile they hope for playful kids to build a fort (or two)
The footpaths hope for skates or skipping rope
I hope that I will see them all, and capture just a few
On behalf of all of us who live in Hope.

h

I really love that Andrew - you bring the wide street and the kids playing to life in that laconic, country town style. I can see those captured moments in black and white on a gallery wall.

Heather

A lovely optimistic poem making great use of the name of the town - sounds like it would be a beaut place to live - almost a step back into the past - places used to be like that in the 50's - safe, friendly, welcoming.

Yes all those things and more

It has that relaxed old world peacefulness about it

Terry

I agree - cleverly done with images and feelings conveyed so well. I really like this.

Thankyou all,
Funny how the process goes - I have had the third stanza in my head for about 3 months and thought it might one day evolve into a major piece - but don't always know what our babies will turn out like, thank goodness.

h

Beautiful pictures Hully.
It's an adventure indeed when the Muse sits on your shoulder for a while ...

There used to be a little shop in Hope Street ( I think it was Hope St ) that served pies and fish chips. They had a big jug of gravy on the bench as the specialty of the house was a bag of chips doused in gravy.

Thanks Matt - I know what you mean

Neville - I think it was called McItaminies Store (not sure of the spelling - pron Mac-It-Am-In-Eees) - I remember it being the closest store to my Nan's for a 'flip top Splashe' - with a paper straw of course.....

h

That's just across the road from the old MacHinery Shed ...