ALWAYS IN MY HEART

[Maureen K Clifford]

This is a favourite of mine that fell of the perch when the old site went down. It's had a bit of mouth to mouth resuscitation and is up and running again with a bit of modification and a new audio clip. Hope you like it.

http://www.pool.org.au/audio/mahalia/always_in_my_heart


ALWAYS IN MY HEART


He sat by the fire with a cold beer or two close at hand.
His Akubra was battered and worn, dirty round the sweat band.
On the gum tree nearby he had tethered his mate, who was happy to rest and contented to wait.
Whilst the old dog lay dreaming of rabbits and pigs he had chased.

The day had been long and the old bloke was long past his prime.
He longed for his homeland and he often thought of the dreamtime.
He wondered if one day he would make it back. Travel the long miles down the Nullabor track,
see the salt pans and spinifex plains, and old tracks long erased.

He thought of the women he'd loved, the young bride he'd wed.
He often felt her presence at night though for years she'd been dead.
Many times as he lay to sleep under the stars, he regretted the time that he'd wasted in bars.
And the dollars he'd wasted on horses that on the tracks raced.

But no time for regrets for times past, what was done was done.
A home's never a home when you're living there all on your own.
Which was why he was here tonight staring at walls, just him and the dog and old memories recalled,
though with family, happiness, love, his life had once been graced.

Somewhere in the city he'd two kids who'd grown up alone.
As a father he won no awards, needed now to atone.
Many years had passed by, he missed his son and daughter, he realized blood was thicker than water.
What to do was the question he asked and the problem he faced.

He knew that to settle the feud someone must make a start.
He'd leave for the city tomorrow, to much time spent apart.
He hoped that for his sins he would be forgiven, by love and by need he was desperately driven.
He knew he had let them down badly and himself disgraced.

That decision now made, he rolled out his swag for the night.
Banked down the fire, and said prayers underneath heavenly light..
Sometime during the night, spirits stole him away, and he never made the trip to the city next day.
But when found, there beside him his old battered Bible he'd placed .

Inside there were photos. A pressed, ribbon bound , withered rose.
A key and a fob watch, tarnished medals, a few words of prose.
The words were as follows and here I do quote, 'I loved you every day' were the words he had wrote.
'but now realize my life on my own selfish dreams was based.

How I wish every day we could all be together once more.
To live our lives over, reclaim happy times shared before.
But I know in my heart of hearts this just cannot be, so I hope and I pray that you can forgive me.
For my love for you always in my heart was safely encased.

Maureen Clifford ©

[Terry]

Hi Maureen,
That was great I just loved the audio and hope everybody has a listen, I wish I had the ability to do something like that like that, it really brings the poem to life - Wow.

Cheers Terry

I just had to have another listen and I can't tell you just how much I enjoyed it, what a great way of reciting your poetry. I have had the pleasure Of hearing Bill do something similar and loved that as well. it certainly has opened my eyes, I'd love to have a go myself one of these days, not that I'd be in the same class as you. I reckon it's such a great way of listening to poetry.

Thanks a lot for sharing it Maureen.

[Terry]

Me again Maureen,
Looks like you have a 1 person fan club.
I urge anyone reading this post to follow the link and have a listen, believe me you will be glad you did.

Terry

[Maureen K Clifford]

Why thank you Terry I am so glad you like it - not having as much success with my new windows 7 program - have had to download a program called Audacity to try to do what I was doing before so easily. Why do companies insist on fixing things that aint broke???

Cheers

Maureen

[Terry]

Hi Maureen,
I also use windows seven, I purchased a thing called Audio studio, you can also get one called Music studio or something like that that does a bit more. I haven't really tried it out except messing about to see if it works.
I hadn't heard poetry done that way with the background music until I heard one of Bills and was immediately hooked, I've heard people have a go at actually singing a poem, but so far haven't been that impressed.
What I like about what you (and Bill for that matter) are doing is instead of the usual reciting you are more or less telling a story that rhymes in a normal voice with all the subtle little voice characteristics that are often lost in a normal recital, and doing it so well, the music puts the finishing touches to it, as I said I love it.

Cheers Terry

[Jasper Brush]

G'day, Maureen.

You write well.

Your talent shines through.

Tugs me old heart strings.


John

[Heather]

Maureen is doing some fantastic things with her poetry in the way of audio and visual. She's one clever lady. Watch out Maureen or someone will find you a job!

Love the picture you have used on Pool for Mel and Oma. Your legs Mauzzie?

Heather